The Talk of the Town (4)
"You're doing a collab with Ppuri?"
"Yeah."
"Heh. I figured you'd collab with another streamer eventually, but I didn't expect it to be someone from my little sister's company."
Hong Siyeon showed up after I called her about the collab with Ppuri.
She sipped her espresso at a cafe near my place and grinned mischievously.
"No collab with a girl streamer?"
"Don't know any."
I've become something of a known streamer myself these days.
Sure, collab invites come in from all over, but none from female streamers.
"You bummed about that?"
"Not really...?"
"Why not?"
"'Cause no other girl streamer could hold a candle to our boss lady?"
"Ahahahaha!! Oh man!! You sure know how to sweet-talk!!"
"Truth is, big-name folks don't really hit me up."
Just people looking to use me.
But Ppuri was different.
He genuinely wanted to stream with me.
And if possible, drop some helpful advice for Kim Juhyeong.
"So, what do you need? Anything—I'll make it happen. Just say the word."
"It's not so much a need... but on shooting day, I'm heading to Ppuri's set..."
"Want me to tag along? Never fought anyone, but they say I've got a mean punch."
Oh boy.
As if.
Those tiny fists shaking around playfully were more cute than scary.
"Why not go with Cheolhon? That's why he's assigned to you."
Cheolhon—Gwak Cheolhon—is my bodyguard, courtesy of Hong Siyeon.
He lives next door for emergencies and tags along wherever I go.
He even came to the last shoot.
"Gave Cheolhon some time off."
"Huh? Why?"
"His grandma's passing in a few days."
Gwak Cheolhon was raised by his grandmother.
He turned out great despite that, but she's in the hospital now with terminal stomach cancer.
I'd love to keep him glued to me, but you can't spit in the face of fate.
So I let him visit every weekend to care for her.
A guy that filial deserves time with his grandma while she lasts.
"You should've said something. I could've sent someone else."
"That's why I'm telling you now?"
Truth is, I rarely go out, so I don't really need protection.
Hong Siyeon thought for a sec, then nodded.
"Got it. I'll send someone else."
"Thanks. Oh, and."
I slid a card over.
She flipped it without a word.
Expand the deal with Japan's Heimasu. Big profits incoming.
A bright smile lit up Hong Siyeon's face.
.
.
.
Collab shoot day with Ppuri.
I got there after his call and spotted a blonde foreign woman I'd never seen.
Whoa.
I'd lose in a fight.
About 190cm tall with shoulders like a brick wall.
She could fold most Korean guys like origami.
She took off her sunglasses and greeted me.
"Nice to meet you. Rachel Promier. Call me Rachel. I usually handle security for President Hong Siyeon."
"Yeah. Nice to meet you. Russian, right?"
"Yes."
Her past flashed: her wielding a knife, slicing terrorist throats.
Don't mess around. Ever.
"I'll be escorting you today."
"If you're on me, who's with the boss...?"
"She's with her grandma today."
"Ah. Gotcha."
That works.
Anyway, Rachel drove us to the shoot spot.
It was a snack bar in the Seoul suburbs.
Near the high school Kim Juhyeong attended—a place he used to hit up a lot as a student.
First round here, then second at a tasty spot Ppuri knows.
Eating two full meals? Ppuri and Kim Juhyeong are big eaters, so it'll be fine.
...I'll just pick at mine.
"Hey, hyung!! Come on in!"
"Been a while. You good?"
"Ahaha! Yeah! Doing great. That stream yesterday was killer, though?"
"Yesterday's? Oh."
The thing from last night's stream.
A viewer's five-year-old son went missing, and I found him.
"No way it actually happened like you said."
"Kids, right?"
The kid vanished after daycare.
Completely gone.
Parents lost it; whole neighborhood mobilized.
No luck.
Someone grabbed at straws and tipped me off.
Turns out, he fell into a sewer.
A bit later, and it would've been bad.
The future I saw had him rescued right on death's door.
Anyway, he was shaken but fine—no life-threatening issues.
"Hitting 300k subs soon, huh?"
"That'd be nice."
My subs spiked, naturally.
More recognition never hurts.
"Who's the lady...?"
"Our boss's bodyguard. Other guy's off today."
"Ah, got it. Nice to meet you. Ppuri here."
"Rachel."
Quick greetings.
Mid-chat, whispers from afar.
Today's other guest arrived.
"Time to start shooting."
Simple opening.
Then special guest intro—I stepped up.
"Today's special guest!! The talk of the town!! World's top philosopher! Kang Noah hyung!!"
The chat exploded.
Only Kim Juhyeong was announced ahead, so yeah.
"Hey everyone. Kang Noah here. Readings today... I'll keep 'em light, no disrupting the stream."
"Not my stream... gotta act like a proper guest."
My own stream? Banmal all day.
Chaos.
I glanced at the scrolling chat.
"Juhyeong hyung!!"
"Juhyeong!! Home run again!!"
"Senior Kim Juhyeong!!! Kim Juhyeong senior!!"
This was Kim Juhyeong's old high school turf.
Tons of fans, naturally.
He arrived with a group, looking awkward as he greeted us.
"Hey. Kim Juhyeong of Woosan."
Huge guy.
Even next to Rachel, he holds his own.
"Welcome! Ppuri here!"
"Whoa! Ppuri! Watched your streams all through high school!"
"Haha!!! Thanks!!! Anyway, today's concept: nostalgia trip with Kim Juhyeong!"
They clicked like they'd prepped.
Eat-bang: devouring every menu item from his fave high school snack bar.
Said he once scarfed 30 Pikachu pork cutlets here.
Big eater vibes as he glanced my way.
"Who's that guy...?"
Doesn't know me, huh.
Fair—I'm still kinda new.
"Kang Noah. Nice to meet you. Mind signing this?"
I held out a baseball.
Kim Juhyeong signed it happily.
"Some players hate signing."
"If it's not fans, we're just playing catch."
No biggie, he grinned.
"Plus, my hero Kim Chanho said if you don't cherish fans, you're no athlete. Back when he was in LA..."
Man talks a ton.
Chanho-level chatterbox.
Sensing stares, he gave an awkward laugh.
"Ahaha. Did it again..."
"No! No! Great for us!!"
No dead air—Ppuri loved it.
"Kim Juhyeong."
"Yeah?"
"Flip this?"
"Tarot?"
"Oh! Late intro! This is Kang Noah. Real-deal fortune teller!"
"Fortune... telling?"
His face soured.
Doesn't buy it.
Still, he tapped and flipped with a smile.
"Just for fun, right?"
"Yep."
He flipped without complaint.
"Hyung! What’s it say?"
Nothing much.
His future's unchanged.
I eyed the camera—rolling.
"Kim Juhyeong stuff... we'll save for end of stream."
"Aww~! C'mon!"
Chat ranted, but nothing to say.
Stream rolled on.
Nearing end, with chat begging...
"Kim Juhyeong."
"Yes."
"Your future... ain't bright."
"......"
His face hardened.
I'd react the same.
Top fortune teller drops your future sucks—who wouldn't?
Ppuri panicked too—didn't see that coming.
"H-Hyung. What’s that mean?"
"Exactly that."
"What... what happens...?"
"Match-fixing scandal."
BAM!!
Kim Juhyeong slammed the table and shot up.
190cm giant glaring—Rachel stepped forward slow from the staff.
I didn't stop.
"Kim Juhyeong. Week ago, bike rear tire popped."
"......"
"Three days back, cockroach in your room."
"...Hah."
"Yesterday breakfast buffet—jam splattered your shirt grabbing bread."
His face darkened more.
I added one more.
"WBC vs. USA. 9th inning, two outs. Bouncing ball floats over your head. Catch it, we win. Drop it, we lose."
His expression stayed frozen.
Till closing remarks.