185. Instead of Ten Million Won
185. Instead of Ten Million Won
***
She was browsing an online store, wondering when Serin would check her messages and get back to her.
@#$%.
Just then, her phone rang. Sua checked the caller ID, her face brightening as she answered.
"Oh, Serin!"
—Sua. What's with this huge amount of money all of a sudden? Did you send it by mistake?
"No, I sent it to the right person. And remember when I donated during your stream? I asked you to contact me after it ended."
—Right. You did. So what does what you said then have to do with the big amount you sent me now?
Serin caught on immediately, and Sua let out a small laugh.
I began saying what I'd prepared.
"I received a project offer from my agency."
—A project? Sua, you... you had an agency?
Serin sounded surprised by something unexpected, so I figured I should explain the agency first.
"Oh, Serin. Before the project, do you happen to know what an MCN is?"
—Yeah. I've heard a bit about it from my editor. So by agency, you meant that kind of company?
Sua had assumed someone like Serin would have received plenty of offers by email long ago. Judging by her reaction, this clearly wasn't the first time she'd heard of it.
"Yes. The MCN agency that manages NewTubers. While I'm at it, I'm with a fairly large MCN called SJ. You can think of it as a company that helps with NewTube channel management, content support, and advertising outsourcing."
—I think I get the idea. So what's this project?
Serin's response sounded like an invitation to keep going, so I spoke with confidence.
"The project I was offered this time is a NewTube-related project, and it's pretty big. You could say it's a project to push a few of the creators under the company. I was offered it because I met the conditions, but I'd like you and me to do it together. I thought it could help RinTube too, so I really wanted to tell you about it."
She finished her prepared explanation calmly and let out a breath.
—Wait, you want me to do a project with you? I'm not even with an MCN called SJ. Is that possible?
"Yes, it's possible. Actually, it seemed like the company wanted it first, not me. There are NewTubers at my agency who are doing better than me, so I asked why they'd offered this to me, and my manager subtly pointed to you."
Even as I spoke, I felt like I was benefiting from Serin, and it made me feel a little guilty.
—So because you're close with me, that opportunity went to you. Is that what you're saying?
"Yes. That's right."
—And that's why you sent me ten million won?
"Honestly, that's a big part of it. The truth is, I got offered this project thanks to you, Serin, since you've been blowing up lately. So I thought I should show you my sincerity. I felt like I was the only one getting too much out of it."
Everything she said was nothing but truth stacked on truth, without a single lie.
It was also for the sake of building a good relationship going forward, and she wanted to be as transparent with Serin as possible.
I believed that if I treated Serin well, she'd treat me well in return.
But.
—Sua, I'm sorry... but I can't accept this money.
The moment she heard Serin's negative response, her heart sank.
For a moment, she was speechless and couldn't say anything. But only for a moment. She immediately asked why.
"...What? Why, Serin?"
—Can you tell me what the project is first? I think I need to hear what it is before I decide.
At Serin's answer, Sua realized her mistake.
She'd been so focused on showing her sincerity first that she'd skipped the most important explanation and just sent the money.
"Oh. I'm sorry. I got ahead of myself. To explain the project first, we'll be producing content to upload to NewTube. The project doesn't have many requirements for us, but the content has to be made within Another World. I heard they'll provide pretty exceptional support no matter what we plan related to Another World."
—Hmm. Related to Another World?
"Yes. Related to Another World."
Serin's voice sounded a little more relaxed at the mention of Another World. That put Sua somewhat at ease.
—What's the project schedule like?
"The schedule can be adjusted plenty to fit whenever you and I are available. The project schedule hasn't even been set yet."
She said that and then waited for Serin's positive response.
—Sua. I still don't think I can take the money.
But Serin's answer sounded like a refusal.
'Why...? This should clearly be a good deal for her too.'
Had I been the only one thinking we'd gotten close? Or had Serin felt burdened by the sudden offer?
Or had Serin actually been disappointed by the money she'd sent over?
Her thoughts were a mess, but even so, Sua parted her lips.
"Was it... too sudden, Serin?"
Sua was cautious as she spoke.
Whatever the reason, Serin's refusal-like tone hit Sua harder than she'd expected.
She even regretted bringing up the project at all.
"..."
When Serin didn't answer for about a minute, Sua bit her lip and blamed herself.
***
—Was it... too sudden, Serin?
Sua's voice sounded much more subdued than before, so instead of answering right away, Serin took a moment to collect her thoughts.
So Sua wanted to do the project with me. And she'd sent a huge amount of money to convey that.
Honestly, it was a bit shocking.
'Were Sua and I really that kind of business relationship?'
Bringing up the project and making the offer was fine. What bothered her was that Sua had sent such a large sum of money just to bring it up.
Even from the partial project details I'd just heard from Sua, there were benefits for me too.
- The claim that it would help RinTube grow.
- Another World-related content.
And if we did go through with the project, we'd sign a contract, so of course I'd receive something.
Knowing Sua's personality, she wouldn't have proposed anything with bad terms for me.
But even if Sua hadn't donated, and even if she hadn't sent ten million won, I still would have given this project proper consideration.
'Is the problem me?'
Then, suddenly, I found myself reflecting on how I'd been acting all this time.
Had I really been so desperate to gain something from Sua?
Maybe Sua had thought that unless she gave me money like this, I wouldn't view the offer favorably. Otherwise, sending such a large amount made no sense.
No matter how you looked at it, who just sends ten million won out of nowhere just to show sincerity?
In the end, I concluded the problem was me. Maybe Sua had sent the money because I hadn't treated her well enough.
'Have I really been that shallow in how I treated Sua?'
Sua was special, if anyone was.
She was the only person in this world I'd gone drinking with a few times, and the first person I'd become close to.
I truly had no choice but to take a hard look at myself.
"Hey, Sua?"
—Yes... Go ahead.
Sua's deeply subdued voice almost made me sigh without realizing it.
Thinking that I must have seemed like I was trying to squeeze something more out of someone younger than me made me feel embarrassed for no reason.
She did try to take care of the people close to her. But it seemed she'd fallen short with Sua.
In a way, maybe it stemmed from how I'd treated Sua meanly when we first met under bad circumstances.
But Sua had always readily gone along with even my unreasonable requests, so at some point I'd started asking her for help without a second thought.
"You don't have to give me the money you sent. And I'll do the project with you."
—Really? Are you sure it's okay?
Sua's voice brightened instantly at my agreement. It made me let out a dry laugh.
She didn't know the details of the project. She just wanted to do what Sua wanted.
"Yeah. It's fine. And from now on, don't send money and then make a request like this. I'm really fine, so you don't need to donate to my stream separately."
—Was the amount I sent too much of a burden? You really can just take it... I genuinely benefit a lot thanks to you, Serin, so I was just trying to show my sincerity.
"..."
Sua's claim that she'd been trying to show sincerity sounded strange.
She knew it was well-intentioned, but still, how often did someone send money along with a proposal?
So I decided to tell Sua what I really meant.
"Why show sincerity?"
—...What?
"Sua, were you and I really the kind of relationship where you had to show sincerity with money before you could say something to me?"
—That's not it, but... still, Serin...
I cut off Sua's attempt to continue.
"If it's not, then it's not. Honestly, I think you and I are pretty close. So when you, of all people, offered me money to ask me to do this together, it really didn't feel right."
—Serin! I really do think we're close too. But I thought this was something to keep separate... so I was just trying to show my sincerity.
She spoke as if separating business from personal matters. Intellectually, Serin understood, but it didn't quite land.
"Honestly, more than the ten million won, when you gave me money and asked me to do something, I wondered if I'd been acting shallow toward you all this time. You could've just asked."
—Oh, no! I've never once thought of you as shallow, Serin!
Sua answered in a startled voice, and I felt the corners of my mouth lift without meaning to.
Truthfully, maybe I'd just felt guilty about taking Sua's money.
She'd asked Sua for so many favors over time.
From stream setup to sudden collab streams to all sorts of other things I didn't even know about, I'd asked her for a lot.
Just then, she remembered that Sua was currently on a streaming hiatus.
"Right. Sua, have you had dinner?"
—No, not yet... Have you?
"Not yet either. So, Sua, instead of ten million won, how about you treat me to a really nice dinner?"