Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: I'm Going to Become a Streamer
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"...Han Sarang, you sure have quite the appetite."
The man who had introduced himself as an employee of BlueNMI Entertainment spoke in a somewhat lukewarm tone. His gaze naturally drifted down to the table.
Thick chocolate cake slices, strawberry shortcake, macarons, tiramisu, tarts, and more. The table was piled high with desserts.
"I'm going to eat it all anyway, right? I'll take the leftovers home."
Who does he think I am, a pig?
My stomach isn't that big anyway, so I can't eat much. Plus, anyone could see this is way too much for one person.
Since opportunities like this don't come around often, I'd just ordered enough snacks for a few weeks all at once.
Of course, the gentleman sitting across from me had footed the bill. An adult like him could easily afford this much.
"Still, I'll share some with you."
I pulled one of the sliced cakes from the to-go bag and set it on the table.
"I bought all of it myself... but whatever. Consider it payment for your time, Han Sarang."
I popped a piece of the chocolate cake into my mouth, and sweetness spread across my tongue.
Delicious. Heh heh.
Maybe because my body was still young, sweets made me happiest.
"Do you have a dream, Han Sarang?"
My hand, reaching for another cake, froze.
A brief silence passed. I slowly lifted my head to look at the man in front of me.
"Why do you ask about my dream?"
"If you don't have any particular dream, I thought it might be nice to find one together with us."
The ajusshi flashed a friendly smile and handed me his business card.
It was the same one I'd received before.
"This time, please don't toss it in the trash."
...He saw that? I felt a pang of needless guilt.
This time, I examined the card he'd given me closely. BlueNMI Entertainment. Casting & Promotion Team Manager, Park Sung-chul.
For a manager to be running around like this himself, it didn't seem like a major agency.
"Sorry. I'll have to pass."
I handed the business card right back to him.
"Do you have another dream, then?"
Even after two rejections, the man's expression didn't waver in the slightest.
A dream? I used to have one. A bitter taste lingered on my tongue as memories of past mistakes flashed by.
But one bite of chocolate cake washed it away completely.
Delicious. Heh heh.
"Yes. I have a dream."
"Mind if I ask what it is?"
I grinned and pressed my fingers to the corners of my mouth, forming a V-sign.
"I'm going to be a streamer."
"A streamer? You mean a broadcaster?"
"Yeah. I'm going to stream games."
The job that would let me reap the biggest benefits from this new life. There was no better choice for me.
"If broadcasting is your goal, you could still do it with us."
"Does your agency handle broadcasters too, ajusshi?"
I'd never heard of an entertainment agency managing broadcasters.
"No, not at all."
What?
"Think about it. An idol trainee doing broadcasts. The buzz alone would make success a sure thing."
My eyebrows shot up at the unexpected pitch.
A former idol trainee broadcaster. He was right—it was a title that would draw attention no matter what.
Even people who didn't care about games might tune in just out of curiosity about her face.
"Once you build some recognition in our industry, succeeding as a broadcaster would be as easy as eating this cake."
The ajusshi said confidently as he popped a piece of cake into his mouth.
'This ajusshi knows the broadcasting scene pretty well.'
He wasn't in that manager position for nothing.
For a fleeting moment, I wondered if it might be fun to try being an idol.
"Sorry. I still don't think so."
But nah, probably not.
Third rejection. The ajusshi's steadfast expression finally cracked just a little.
"Could I ask the reason, at least?"
"Idol life is tough."
Idols are often compared to swans.
Graceful on the surface of the lake, but paddling furiously below to maintain that poise.
The reality was different, but as a metaphor, it fit pretty well.
"Dancing till your bones ache every day, singing till your throat gives out. I can't live that busy."
Unable to deny it, Park Sung-chul didn't offer any counterargument.
"And I don't have the money to be an idol anyway."
"The company covers all that."
"That's all debt. I don't even have bus fare to get to an agency."
The ajusshi gave me a look like, How do you know that?
"Anyway, I don't think it'll work. Sorry."
My firm stance seemed to sap his will to persuade any further.
"I see. I can't very well push it now."
He picked up the business card I'd left on the table with a wry expression.
I felt bad again. He'd bought me all these snacks, after all.
"Still, I'm really grateful you saw potential in me, ajusshi. I'll treasure today's memory forever."
I fluttered my eyelashes like a half-moon and smiled without showing my teeth.
The ajusshi stared at my face silently for a moment, then his eyes widened as if remembering something.
"Oh, right—what was I thinking? There's one thing I haven't mentioned yet."
Hm?
He still had more to say?
"For anyone we cast, we provide support money just for auditioning—regardless of whether you pass or not. Of course, it's too late to matter now."
My ears perked up involuntarily at the mention of money.
"And if you pass the audition, we give even more."
"How much?"
"Well, it depends on your potential."
Park Sung-chul paused before continuing.
"At least a hundred thousand won, though."
A hundred thousand?
Just for passing one audition?
Entertainment agencies spent way more than I'd thought. Was BlueNMI actually a big company?
"We evaluate during trainee life and provide steady support if we see potential. Oh, and we provide dinner too. Our agency's food is pretty good. Snacks are always stocked, so take as much as you want. And if your potential is solid, we cover high school tuition, and—"
I listened blankly as Park Sung-chul rattled on without pause. After a while, he trailed off with a regretful smack of his lips and an awkward smile.
"But you're not interested, are you, Han Sarang? Sorry for taking your time."
"...Wait a sec."
I grabbed him just as he started to stand.
"Huh? Han Sarang?"
"When's the audition? How much is the support money?"
It wasn't for greedy reasons or anything.
I was just purely curious. Really.
"It varies, but we give at least fifty thousand won base."
"How long does the audition take?"
"Usually wraps up in ten minutes."
Ten minutes for fifty thousand won.
Fifty thousand could buy tteokbokki more than ten times over. Even eating it once a day for a week would leave leftovers.
"..."
Hmm.
Hmm...
Should I just snag the audition support money?
"Audition passing incentive support money?"
In the CEO's office at BlueNMI Entertainment, a woman furrowed her brow and crossed her legs.
"Do we even have something like that? And audition support money? Everything except the dinner part is a straight-up lie."
Shock was plain on CEO Oh Seo-hee's face.
BlueNMI was scraping by on two groups that had found some success—groups that barely qualified as B-list hits, at best.
This industry cycled through generations every five years or so. Knowing even those groups could be pushed out anytime, the company's finances weren't exactly flush.
To make matters worse, major agencies were hoovering up all the promising talent lately. Trainees flocked to the big names, leaving mid-to-small agencies like theirs ignored.
"That's exactly why we need to invest more in scouting talent, CEO. Don't we lack a future right now?"
"Hah."
"Trust me. She's a raw gem I dug up after turning every middle school in the area upside down."
Park Sung-chul was utterly confident, without a hint of hesitation. Oh Seo-hee let out an exasperated breath at his attitude. Just how amazing was this girl that he was talking so big?
Could it be someone on Baek Yeon-hwa's level?
The thought crossed her mind for a second, but she shook her head. She knew better than anyone that wasn't possible.
"Sigh... Manager Park."
Even so, there was the issue of fairness.
A company that didn't give trainees a dime suddenly lavishing attention on one specific girl would be blatant favoritism. With so few trainees left already, it would tank morale.
"Then let's overhaul the company system while we're at it. Give support money to dedicated, promising trainees."
"Should I deduct it from your salary, then?"
"Yes. Do that."
"...Pardon?"
"Not a lot. They're kids. Just enough to fuel their passion. Han Sarang can be a special case."
Oh Seo-hee stared at him, momentarily speechless.
Park Sung-chul, Team Manager.
He had a reputation for competence in many areas, one of the few talents she'd personally recruited by pounding the pavement.
Which made it even harder to understand. This wasn't the type to spout nonsense.
At this point, she was genuinely curious.
What had this girl done to make him so persistent?
She needed to see her face at least.
"Fine, we'll talk after the audition. When's the next schedule?"
"When do small agencies like ours ever have important schedules, CEO? Just announce one in two weeks."
It wasn't wrong. That made it all the more infuriating.
But still, it wasn't wrong.
"...Post it on the website and SNS."
Oh Seo-hee leaned back, trailing off. Her mind was still a mess, but deep down, she hoped Manager Park's eye for talent was spot on.
If they really landed someone on Baek Yeon-hwa's level, they might actually afford trainee support like he said.