Chapter 49

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Translator: True Detective

Chapter: 49

Chapter Title: For the First Time in Ages, My Heart Started Pounding

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1.

The day the collab with Chef Kang Taeyeon was scheduled. Without delay, I posted the collab announcement right away.

"You sure it's okay not to mention that Chef Kang Taeyeon is coming out?"

My sister tilted her head as she checked the notice I'd posted. It made sense for her to be puzzled since I was hiding the biggest card up my sleeve.

"This way, it'll surprise the viewers more. And don't we owe those gallery trolls a good smackdown too?"

I smirked and logged into the gallery. Sure enough, posts about me were piling up as always.

"News spreads fast..."

My sister, peering at the screen beside me, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠marveled. Fortunately, she stayed calm even after seeing the hate.

"At this point, aren't they basically your fans?"

"...I'd pass on fans like these."

"Keep scrolling."

Like piranhas swarming at the scent of blood, the hate posts kept coming. Then midway, the target shifted.

It was straight-up guest hate now. Luckily, no backlash against Elena or Yura.

Makes sense—why stare at rotten meat when fresh prime cuts are right there?

"Why are you laughing?"

I turned to my sister at the sound of her chuckling beside me.

"It's just funny. Talking all that trash without even knowing who's guesting. Wonder what their faces will look like when Chef Kang Taeyeon shows up?"

"They'll panic? Then turn guns on each other... and eventually bite the chef too?"

"...For real?"

My sister furrowed her brow, face saying she doubted it'd go that far.

But I was certain.

"Yeah. Humans, when they decide to get ugly, can get uglier without end."

Especially when they don't have to own up to their words. That's humanity for you.

"How about we lay a little trap then?"

"A trap?"

Instead of answering, I started typing a post in the gallery.

"...Hayul, you."

"After all the shit they've thrown at me here. I deserve a little pettiness, right?"

My sister shook her head helplessly, like she couldn't stop me.

I hit post immediately. Moments later, comments exploded on my thread.

The comment section flooded with curses in seconds. The backlash was so fierce, dislikes hit over 100 instantly.

"Hayul, that post you just made? It's already in the hall of shame."

"For real. Someone upvoted it on purpose to preserve it."

Meant as a quick troll, but them framing it themselves? Nice.

'Even better.'

Later, it'll be prime evidence of their ugliness.

"Look at this. It's spreading to other communities too."

The screen my sister showed had my post screenshotted and getting dragged everywhere.

Not every community was hostile, though. Comments varied wildly as a result.

"...This blew up bigger than expected, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Mind if I have some fun too?"

"What're you planning?"

Instead of answering, my sister smirked and hopped into the Virtual Streamer Gallery, starting to type.

"...Sis."

My sister grinned mischievously. Old community habits die hard.

"Why not? You did the same. Fair's fair, right?"

"...Fine. But that's it? Don't get caught with your pants down."

"Obviously."

Post went up, and comments poured in right away.

"Puhahaha!"

My sister burst out laughing at the rapid-fire replies. She even dropped a reply herself—clearly having a blast.

I shook my head and got up from the sofa. Just then, my phone rang—Yura calling.

"Sis, ease up on the communities. No more posts or comments."

"Just lurking. Promise."

She said she'd cut back, but old habits die hard, I guess.

"Yeah, Yura."

I headed to my room, flopped on the bed, and picked up. We'd agreed to drop formalities after the last joint stream.

"Hayul! Whatcha doing?"

"Just finished dinner and chilling on the bed. You?"

"Yura had dinner with family and is relaxing! Oh, and Mom said to thank you so much! She wants to treat you if you come ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to Japan!"

"Got it. Saw your SNS post too. Glad she enjoyed it. But really just like Grandma's?"

"...Truth is, Yura's cooking sucks, so couldn't match what you made. But even accounting for that, she said it was similar!"

"Phew, good."

A soft smile tugged at my lips. Talking with Yura always puts me at ease somehow.

"Sorry for the late call. Mom blabbed it's just like Grandma's, so relatives swarmed, and I was busy making more!"

"No worries. Happens."

Mid-casual chat, I heard groaning from the other end.

"You okay? Hurt somewhere?"

"Yura's in the living room on the phone right now. Family's nearby... speaking Korean like this is kinda embarrassing."

"Jaa, ima kara Nihongo de hanasou. (Then let's switch to Japanese from now on.)"

I flipped to Japanese instantly. Yura sounded shocked.

"Whoa!? Y-you speak Japanese?!"

"Yeah."

One of the blessings from my otherworld days. Auto-translation? Think in the target's language, and even Korean comes out as theirs.

"Wow, chatting in Japanese with you feels so surreal."

"Really?"

"I'll switch later. Not now!"

Sudden commotion over the line.

"What's up?"

"Ah, me talking Japanese with you got the family wanting in. Kinda overwhelming."

"Yeah, I get that."

I've always found chatting with other families awkward since I was little. Fine with peers, but adults? No clue what to say.

Probably 'cause I've never had parents. Or so I figure.

"So why'd you call? Not just to chat, right?"

"...Busted, huh."

"Calling me instead of chilling with family? Gotta be a reason."

"Sharp as ever... Nothing big, really. Just, tomorrow's collab announcement got me worried, so I called."

I chuckled softly.

"What’s to worry? Told you before—I don't care what anyone says."

"Still. Even if you're chill, little wounds can sneak up unnoticed. Just checking."

"Thanks for worrying."

"...Nah, I should be thanking you."

A brief silence fell, but it felt warm and comfy, not awkward.

"Ah, Mom's calling—gotta go. Let's meet when you're back in Korea!"

"Sure. Sweet dreams."

"You too, sis!"

Call ended with Yura's words.

"Sis, huh..."

I stared blankly at the screen for a sec, then smirked.

"Not bad."

Better hit the hay early. Tomorrow won't be easy.

'Can't wait.'

For the first time in ages, my heart started pounding.