Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Killing the Broth
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Lee Ye-rin's sudden appearance as a streamer brought the song stream to an end.
My throat was starting to hurt anyway, so it was for the best.
I glanced at the viewer count, and this time, nearly 400 people were still hanging around.
A slight chill ran down my spine.
I could guess why the number had suddenly more than doubled.
Some had stuck it out after hearing there'd be an announcement during the shitshow,
and a ton of viewers had flooded in from the clip of me donating to Na-don last night.
Still, 400? Really?
I never imagined so many people could endure my full-throttle performance like this.
This must be why they call humans creatures of adaptation.
"Um... Shall we talk about that important announcement I teased?"
"In three weeks, I've submitted an application for the 'Taurine Triachia League' sponsored by Seo-a Pharmaceuticals. No word on acceptance yet, but I cleared the prelim cutoff rank easily, so it should be fine."
llil11lI1 donated 10,000 won!
"As for streaming... Can't give a firm answer yet, but I'll stream hard at least until the prelims."
And if I made it to finals and got pro gamer certification, I'd probably switch to full-time streaming.
Hm... Actually, it's the other way around.
Truth is, I plan to go full-time streaming, but the fees piss me off, so I'm aiming for finals to dodge them somehow.
I already told the boss I'm serious about streaming, right?
But if I said that straight up, viewers would lose their minds in a good way, and I don't wanna see that, so I'll announce it later.
If I don't mention it, viewers will fret every day wondering if I'll even stream tomorrow...
Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Even better if a few bail.
My stream style's all teabagging and crazy antics—if the scale jumps suddenly, backlash is guaranteed.
Just maintain current income with the concrete-only crowd? Perfectly happy.
Need to cull viewers periodically.
"If I pass prelims, I'll take a long hiatus for main prep. Still over three weeks till prelims, so I'll announce again later."
"But I'll stream hard for the next three weeks, okay? Should I just not? Hm... Feels like slamming a two-month hiatus to really shake off the ants wouldn't be bad either..."
Of course, a two-month hiatus would shatter concrete and all, so no such plans.
Still, since viewers don't know I'm baiting rice-streaming, it was a handy threat.
But that last chat rubbed me wrong.
I was gonna quit 'cause throat hurt, but mind changed.
"Announcement's done, back to it. This song's 'Love's Side Dick Whack'!"
The chat filled with shock and screams at the surprise encore declaration.
Now, watching viewers suffer was more fun than singing.
Let's see if I can boil the broth even doing this daily.
- Seo-ha, wanna grab dinner after stream?
The collab started, and the boss asked right away.
For old me, 'outing just for food' was unthinkable,
but add 'with a friend' upfront, and it changes everything.
What I saw as inefficient became special with three little words.
"Sure. Felt bad always freeloading—my treat this time."
- Huh? Really?
"Got a fat education fee check from Chan-ho last time."
Considering the wealth gap between boss and me, me buying food might seem silly at first glance.
But not about flexing cash.
Just wanted to celebrate good news small-scale with a friend.
Happiness doubles when shared, right?
I'd never shared misfortune or luck with anyone before.
So I wanted to try a 'milestone' once.
- ...Seo-ha. I'm gonna cry...
I told boss honestly, and her voice got watery.
While the speaker here was fine.
- But didn't the orphanage do birthdays and stuff? That's milestones too.
"Hm... They did nominally, but subbed discount snack packs from the mart for cake. No budget, couldn't be helped."
- Gasp...! So you've never had cake your whole life??
"Nah. Recently bought one myself—first time."
- Recently.... Haha, good thing. At least you've tried it?
"Yeah. Super recent—day the back-apples got busted, grabbed white chocolate cake from conbini! No wonder cake's famous. Turned my gloomy mood right around."
- Sniff...! N-next time, I'll get you tastier cake! Right, your birthday! When's Seo-ha's bday?!
"Birthday... Kinda tricky. I'm one of the defectives.... They just picked random on my registry. Don't even know my real one."
- Defectives?
For the boss who didn't get the defective talk,
viewers clipped the convo with Lee Ye-rin earlier and fired it off.
Hm. Now not just boss, chat getting misty too.
wwuwwuw777 donated 100,000 won!
The collab mood was properly wrecked before 30 minutes in.
Absolutely zero intent for that.
Don't streamers usually package unique stories funnily?
I just spilled a quirky past like that—what's the deal??
"Why the mood...? Y'all know I'm an orphan now? Already knew."
- The stuff you used as humor fodder having this backstory is shocking...
"Hm."
- Hope bringing it up doesn't hurt?? You weren't forcing it for stream...?
"Huh? Me?"
Boss's words drew a small sigh.
Wrong read on my past statements' intent.
"Opposite. Only casually mention past hardships 'cause I'm satisfied now."
I'm eating well, living well now.
Bankroll fat thanks to boss, nicotine stocked.
Future planned decently.
No reason to cling to past on surface?
And unlike boss thinks,
harder times demand holding onto humor.
Crisis moments: humor keeps mind steady facing reality.
Example: orphanage full of witty comedians.
Never stopped snarking annoying kids.
Mock three-finger flick shaking 1.5x more,
scissors/rock only so bet allowance every time,
group gaming? "Handicap gamer only."
Thinking back, varied roasts...
Anyway, they're scraping by post-orphanage.
Pessimists? Mostly bad ends.
"My past tales gotta end in laughs. Too happy now for pity—who pities who? Y'all got friends? I got boss."
- Ack.
"Eww, cringy. Urk! Rash incoming—drop this bait...?"
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"Y'all can laugh, streamer can't. Don't wanna tank, hold it in."
Successfully flipped the mood, thankfully.
Collab went smoothly after.
Pitiful/regret tags don't suit my life.
And post-stream.
I hopped in boss's car for late dinner.
"Hey boss. Thanks always for driving."
"Psh, no biggie. Whatcha wanna eat?"
"Anything you crave? My treat."
"Sushi omakase then."
"...Lemme off. Drive safe."
"Kidding! No omakase open this late!"
Chatted idly en route.
Only country soup joint still open nearby.
Boss sat without complaint.
"But boss, why sudden dinner invite?"
"Hm.... Well."
Slight hesitation.
I eyed boss puzzled.
After a bit, lips parted.
"If something real tough and you're suffering inside... You can lean on me."
"Sudden...?"
"...You tossed out stories casually as overcome past, made me think some might not be."
"Ah......"
True, skipped darkest tales.
Like school bullying specifics, orphanage beating cycles.
Too iffy for stream.
"Your people phobia or rejecting looks compliments... Tied to that past... maybe?"
"Y-yeah. Kinda."
Rooted in body turning female.
Beyond control—perception won't shift.
Made sense boss might worry seeing this side.
"Fine. Hm. Not blowing up big yet...?"
"Good... then."
Boss's hand patted my head.
Body young doesn't mean mind is.
Tried dodging, but saw eyes—full of worry.
Stopped.
Thus ended dinner with boss.
Tomorrow: stream day 4.
Last day for promised solo stream before viewers.
So before true streamer life...
Time to properly kill the broth.
Feels like it's growing lately.
"Everyone. Still time left—what do you think of Christmas day hiatus?"
Hello. Newbie streamer Yoo Seo-ha here.
Hobbies: Sending rival streamers to ruin and shattering viewers' horns.