Chapter 58

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: #bridge We're Pretty Close

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As expected, it was an Average grade. That was the goal anyway.

From the results so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠far, it seemed like the short production time had a pretty significant impact on the grading.

Rustle.

I started jotting down the new insights in the notebook laid out beside the Scenario Book.

"Writing a scenario with fixed characters definitely boosts Immersion faster."

In U Dahee's case, having all the character settings locked in beforehand made things much smoother.

"I need to nail down Dayoung's settings and character soon."

U Dayoung's was just scribbled roughly, so there wasn't any real concept to it.

"A big sister who does everything for you. Cooks, cleans, spreads her legs wide. How great is that?"

Not like a fuck buddy, but a loving sister who does anything for her cherished little brother.

Just thinking about it was turning me on.

"So for Dayoung..."

I wanted to play with Dayoung in a slightly different way.

"If she does anything I say, it's like..."

Maybe because we'd known each other too long, but unlike with U Dahee, I couldn't picture a character who did everything when she said it.

For starters, I might not be able to keep a straight face and end up bursting into laughter.

"Yeah, for her, it has to feel like close friends."

U Dayoung's outline was gradually taking shape.

"Friends... but sex friends..."

I'd need to add details, but it was settling into sex friends territory.

"If it's just plain old sex with no buildup, it'll lack plausibility and Discomfort will rise..."

For U Dahee, I'd included her longing for a little brother figure. That emotion let me build the 'anything-for-her-brother' sister setup.

I set the pen down for a moment and glanced outside.

Even at night, the streetlights stretched out in neat rows like stars, brightly illuminating the road.

Today's full moon was especially brilliant too.

"No clouds at all after all that recent rain."

It had been a day since filming Season 2's first project, Dream Couple's Life, wrapped up, so my stamina had recovered somewhat.

"Yawn."

I let out a short yawn and checked the notebook to refine U Dayoung's concept, but nothing clicked.

Scratching my head vigorously, I pushed it aside and turned to the computer monitor I'd left on.

"Guess I should handle editing properly first."

After work, during breaks, I'd started going over the videos of U Dayoung and U Dahee, the sisters, one by one.

Tap tap.

It was an extension of work, but it didn't feel tiring.

"Damn, Jenga was fucking hot."

Back when I didn't know much about my abilities, there were a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lot of sloppy parts showing.

I backed up the edited videos to an external hard drive.

"Cloud storage might screw me over..."

U Dayoung's videos: 4.

U Dahee's videos: 2.

"Over a month of filming for 6 total... we shot a ton."

Even editing them, there was no audio peaking fixes or color correction—just raw footage.

It was worse than my college student days, by my own judgment.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"But that's what makes it hotter. Hmm. Good."

After roughly finishing the edits, I prepped the next props.

I already had a planned scenario in mind, so props first.

I fired up Photoshop and made posters and fake website screenshots.

"Threesome with sisters... fuck, that's insanely hot."

For the grade, Average was fine. Superior would be nice, but no big deal if not.

"Sigh, I'm curious about higher grades though..."

Honestly, I was greedy, but my brain wasn't sharp enough for brilliant stories.

No writing talent either—just a regular student who'd studied video production.

At the company, I'd done endless editing, occasional field shoots at best.

"Hmm... good enough. Next up, the scenario..."

While brainstorming the scenario, my dick kept getting hard down there.

Everything was great, except that.

Being able to freely shape situations and characters as I wanted kept me constantly erect.

The problem was, even jerking off didn't fix it.

"Ah~. Can't live like this, fucked."

I lamented, but a smile played on my lips as I outlined the scenario.

Next day's meeting.

"Rough cut's done? Let's watch."

I played the first rough edit of the promo video with U Dahee.

Pointing at the screen with the back end of my pen.

"I'd like to add some Instagram-vibe text overlays here. And brighten the color grading a bit, like an app filter."

Condensing the long footage into 3 minutes had been pretty tough.

"Looks good? We can proceed like this."

Kim Woohyun nodded along to my explanation, smiling contentedly.

"You sure? This level okay?"

I asked again, and he nodded.

"Just add effects and it's perfect. Matches that young vibe you wanted."

"Right. Yeah. Proceed like this?"

Once I finished, Won Yuchan spoke up next.

"Hyung, deadline's tight. Probably impossible this week."

"Hmm... yeah?"

Won Yuchan, who politely added "hyung" to everyone except me.

"We're still reviewing interviews too..."

"But aren't we hiring an intern? I can't teach while working, hyung. Won't keep up."

He was right. Work was piling up; teaching a new intern on top was impossible.

I rested my chin, listening like it was someone else's issue, when Kim Woohyun looked at me.

"Siu."

"Yeah?"

"Rough cut as-is? You'll do final edit too. No guide revisions?"

I dropped my hand, anxiety bubbling.

"You're assigning the intern to me? No way? You got your girlfriend. Dayoung teaches amazingly."

All eyes turned to U Dayoung.

She snatched off her cap like drawing a sword and fanned herself with it.

Flapping cap.

"Not me~. I'm editing non-stop with Yuchan. No time. Why so many big projects lately?"

"...?"

"Honestly, peak audio on-site~. Why film outside so much~. Seriously... sound glitches everywhere..."

Home gaming or talk shows were mostly set, but with more outdoor streamers lately, the audio editing team's workload exploded.

"Siu~. You need my audio edits too~."

"Hmm... true."

"You teach 'em~."

"Our CEO's too busy?"

"...I'm busy too. Took on too much."

"Hire experienced then."

Everyone's wish, but reality said no.

"Paying your salaries soon'll put us in the red..."

Times were tough. We were friends who knew the situation, taking pay cuts as investments, yet still.

"Even no-experience, no-major hires are hard to pay honestly."

Some paid advances, others post-pay. Studios multiplying, rates dropping.

"Ugh... fine. I'll teach. At least pick a military-service done guy."

"Got it. Sorry, Siu."

"Psh, whatever. Help when it's tough. When company grows, bonuses for real."

I had savings, fully paid jeonse house—no immediate big expenses.

Plus, constant help from Kim Woohyun.

Well, from his girlfriend, technically.

Saturday.

We gathered at the office early morning.

"Ugh, weekend work~."

Everyone chuckled at my gripe.

Cap backwards, work gloves on. All in comfy clothes for labor.

"Do interviewees know? We prep this space for them."

"Heh."

U Dayoung shoulder-bumped me laughing.

"They got no clue. That's senior love, right?"

"Sigh, rare senior like me."

"True."

Amateurs, so with Kim Woohyun's pro acquaintance, we started.

"Not so flimsy~. Hold opposite side. Yes, good, perfect~."

"Pros are different."

Pro's directions led: partitions up, space divided.

Space so vast for four desks; felt empty. Partitions made it look legit.

"Office still huge."

"Haha..."

Half this size in Seoul cost more—why we came here.

Kim Woohyun's family building, extra discount too.

"Meeting room there."

"...Walk from far end every morning? Wastes flow."

"Huh?"

"Keep as chill friend studio. Better?"

Use undecided, but company stuff accumulating.

"Break~."

"Sure~."

"Yuchan! Come."

Won Yuchan and I went down for smokes.

Pro acquaintance joined, bummed a light.

"Here."

"Thanks."

Three smoking; pro stranger, awkward-not-awkward vibe.

Finishing up to head back, familiar face on sidewalk.

"...?"

Squinting: U Dahee in white tee, overall shorts, trotting over, long hair swaying.

Almost didn't recognize at first.

"Oh~, Siu~. Hi~."

Greeting casually post-scenario. Rare non-scenario meet.

I bowed; she hand-on-hip.

"Proper greet~."

"Hello."

"Again~."

"Good day~."

"Good."

Finally, she grinned wide with red lips, arm-linked me.

Won Yuchan and pro glanced.

She bowed to them; they awkwardly bowed back on stairs.

"Ah, hello."

Won Yuchan's face probably matched mine.

"Up we go."

She slung eco-bag, tugged my arm.

Why here? Filming done, no scenario.

Through open door; U Dayoung and Kim Woohyun spotted her, eyes wide.

"Sis, why here?"

U Dahee unlinked, set bag down.

"You said partitions today, nagged me."

"So?"

Why that matter?

U Dahee linked arms casually.

"Sightseeing."

"...Huh?"

"Heehee, kidding~. Gotta feed my hardworking siblings~. Siu~. Here."

I approached; she patted my ass casually.

"No hardships for my Siu?"

"... ."

Sweat on forehead cooled; realization hit.

Work's Influence.

Stronger than thought.

Glanced at U Dayoung: unaffected.

Seems big effect only on prior work subjects.

"Hmm... y-yeah."

"Brought drinks for heat."

She shook insulated bottle of iced coffee, beaming; soon pouring for pro too.

"When'd you get close to Siu?"

U Dayoung sipped sis's coffee, asked.

U Dahee draped my arm over her shoulder.

"Many shoots, got close. He's cute, right?"

"A-hem."

I coughed, face red.

Non-scenario: felt naked.

Coughed, scratched brow.

"Me and sis are BFFs. Spill-everything pals."

Time for unplanned acting.