Auction
Auction
I collapsed into my chair.
"Haa..."
My legs were trembling.
The kindergarten uniform was already soaked with sweat, clinging uncomfortably to my bare skin.
I wanted to tear it off immediately, but I couldn't.
That's what the contract stipulated.
I chugged lukewarm bottled water in one go.
On the stage ahead, other female streamers were showcasing their talents.
Dancing, singing, acting cute.
My eyes shifted to the Excel spreadsheet filling the monitor beside the camera.
[Wolha: 100,000 balloons]
Those heartless bastards hit exactly 100,000.
Couldn't they have given more...
But that's 10 million won, right?
Even though the platform takes 20% and Park Haneul skims another 80% from that...
What ends up in my hands is 1.6 million won.
How am I supposed to pay off my debts with this...?
The conclusion is simple.
I need to grab attention here somehow and grow my channel.
I pasted the link to my newly created personal GomTV broadcast channel into Haneul Company's chat.
[Wolha: Hello. This is Wolha. I've also opened a personal broadcast on GomTV.
Please subscribe.]
The chat immediately reacted.
[Is this for real?]
[The link seems legit?]
[Why's the vibe so different between the stream and chat lol]
[Wolha: This is how I usually stream hehe]
[Subscribed already. See you later, cutie]
[Wolha: I'm currently live on my personal channel too. Watch now!]
[Lmao why so sweet? Going right now]
The subscriber count for my new channel started rising in real-time from zero.
Currently 137.
Compared to the 47 during my hakko days, it's a huge leap.
But still not enough.
***
"Alright! Let's officially begin the broadcast!"
Park Haneul's voice echoed through the studio.
"Since this is the first episode of the season, we'll keep it light.
Now form three teams!
With 10 people, it won't divide evenly.
But hey, that's part of the fun, right?"
"Eh? Last time we split into two teams though?"
"Three teams makes for better drama!
Hurry up and form them!"
As soon as the starting signal was given, the female streamers exchanged glances and quickly clustered together.
"As you all know, today's ranking will be determined by each team's total balloons at the end of the broadcast!
The last place team will— wash their faces clean with cleansing foam for a close-up ending!"
"Starting from the first episode!?"
"That's too harsh!"
"This is what makes everyone give their all.
Hurry up!"
Groans erupted from among the women.
Last season's dropout lost a major donor because of this and retired from streaming...
"Uh... what's this?"
The women's movements gradually stopped.
Four centered around Lee Suyeon,
"CEO-nim~ Our team members are scared."
"We'd like Wolha too~"
Five led by Arin.
And me, standing alone with no one around.
"Wolha's so pretty that we're afraid we'll get overshadowed if we're on the same team."
"Suyeon-ah, when have I ever done that~"
Suyeon said with a tail-wagging smile.
It sounded like praise, but to me, it sounded like:
'Go take the fall alone and get fucked.'
"Arin-ah, since we have four, you can send two from your side."
"No, your side already has better visuals, and if we're outnumbered too, the game won't be fair."
Arin laughed as she responded to Suyeon.
"Is that how it works?"
"We didn't specify exact numbers, so this is fine, right?"
Arin didn't even look at me as she spoke to Park Haneul.
Did she develop some resentment after that two-shot earlier?
"...That's right! This is the charm of live broadcasts!
Our newbie will adapt better after getting a strong dose of reality this time, won't she?"
What nonsense.
Ultimately, with Park Haneul's tacit approval, it became 5 vs 4 vs 1.
A blatant setup to ostracize me.
[Wolha getting straight-up murdered lololol]
[Does a 1-person team even make sense?]
[Ugh, reminds me of Jisook's nightmare]
[Wait, Wolha's bare face is pretty though?]
[LOL the broth's already boiling]
[I used to think female streamers were pretty without makeup too...]
[Damn, the female streamers' sabotage game is intense lol]
[Look at Suyeon deliberately excluding her]
[Keunson Gom: ...]
The chat was on fire, but Park Haneul, encouraged by the unprecedented hype, shouted excitedly.
"Now let's get into the main broadcast!"
***
"The long-awaited mission auction time has arrived!"
Park Haneul's crisp voice instantly heated up the studio atmosphere.
The screen filled with flashy effects.
"You all know the rules, but let me explain for our new viewers!"
"But Wolha's from hakko background— would there even be new male viewers?"
A lower-ranked female streamer's inappropriate remark came through.
[LOLOLOL]
[Savage]
[Sirin must be really desperate]
"What kind of talk is that! They're all my dear viewers.
The rules are simple! Our viewers will bid balloons for missions assigned to the female streamer in the center!
The single highest bidder gets to exclusively assign their desired mission!"
[This is peak Excel lololol]
[Paycheck loaded. Bring it on]
"I trust our viewers will adjust the mission intensity appropriately."
[Hehehe]
[You don't trust us? lol]
"This time we'll go in reverse order.
Starting with our top streamer, Suyeon-nim!"
Suyeon walked to the center stage with a relaxed smile.
She winked at the camera.
"Oppas~ Be gentle with me, okay?"
That nasal tone was the starting gun.
[Suyeon cutie I'm dying!]
[Gentlemen, charge!]
The bid amount on one side of the screen skyrocketed crazily.
5,000, 10,000, 15,000...
The female streamers watching from behind gaped.
"Insane. Already at 15,000?"
"Suyeon's regulars must be going all out today."
A golden system message flashed.
[SuyeonDanjang has bid 30,000 balloons!]
"Stop! Stop! SuyeonDanjang-nim with 30,000! 3 million won secured!"
Park Haneul shouted excitedly.
"Danjang-nim, what's the mission!"
[SuyeonDanjang: Change into string bikini and do zero-two dance. Go]
[OMG]
[Always grateful hehe]
[Damn spicy, sir]
The other streamers pretended to be shocked but their eyes were filled with envy.
Suyeon blew a kiss toward the camera.
"Danjang oppa, wait for me while I change~"
She swayed her hips slightly as she headed to the dressing room.
"Now, let's proceed with the next participant while we wait! Arin-nim, come on out!"
Arin pouted her lips as she stepped to the center.
"Do you only spoil Suyeon and not me?"
Another bidding war erupted.
The final winning bid was 20,000.
[Arin's Guardians: Tear off the black stockings you're wearing with ASMR mic! Let's go!]
Arin didn't hold back either.
She lifted her skirt hem precariously.
Brought the mic to her thigh.
Her sharp nails dug into the stockings.
Riiip—
Riiiip—
The sound of nylon tearing spread through the ASMR mic.
Pale skin peeked through the torn gaps.
Arin even mixed in heavy breathing.
"Ah, why did you start without me!"
Suyeon returned to the stage in red string bikini.
Her bare skin glistened under the lights.
Did she oil herself up backstage?
Suyeon blocked the camera filming Arin and struck a pose.
"Ah, why are you blocking me!"
"Because I'm number one?"
Upbeat zero-two music started playing.
Suyeon lightly ignored Arin as she swayed her hips.
She flicked her pelvis and played with the strings.
Making eye contact with the camera lens, she bit her lip.
[Hngg]
[I'll serve SuyeonDanjang forever loyalty loyalty]
[Money really is the best damn lololol]
[SuyeonDanjang: Pleased]
After Suyeon's solo performance, other streamers' auctions continued.
Close-up joint-popping dance, chest-press jumps, ice water pours.
Everyone performed their familiar acts flawlessly.
30,000 balloons means 3 million won.
After platform fees and Park Haneul's cut... 480,000 won...
"Now! The long-awaited finale! Today's most buzzworthy star! Wolha-nim!"
Finally my turn came.
I forced my legs to move and stood at center stage.
But.
30.
50.
...Stopped at 80.
[LOL hakko with no regulars cut off!]
[Someone please donate TT]
[Kinda hot seeing Wolha shrink like that?]
[A supreme beauty like me only worth 8,000 won here?]
I expected this but...
No way a 'whale' would open their wallet for me who just joined GomTV.
An awkward silence fell.
I could see bikini-clad Suyeon crossing her arms and smiling.
The streamers around Arin were whispering to each other.
Park Haneul's face stiffened.
"Viewers! This is today's sensational rookie!
Will you miss this opportunity?"
The chat didn't budge.
Park Haneul's voice went up an octave.
"Special exception today— extra spicy missions are OK too!
I guarantee it!"
...What?
This crazy bastard?
My face almost twisted but the camera was on me.
I gritted my teeth and endured.
Bids started moving after Park Haneul's blank check.
[Hardass: 100, Wash face with ice water while reading apology letter]
[LandOfCourtesy: 500, Kneel and bow to seniors]
[SilinRing: 1000, Wear stockings on head during broadcast]
[LOLOLOLOLOL]
I heard suppressed laughter behind me.
As horrific missions flooded the chat, 'SuyeonDanjang' dropped 30,000.
The mission appeared in red text:
[Call your mom and say "I'm doing Excel broadcast right now"]
Instantly, my blood ran cold.
[Look at Wolha's frozen expression LOLOL]
[LOLOL crazy bitch crossed the line]
[Isn't this an actual broadcast accident?]
[SuyeonDanjang on fire today lololol murder maestro]
Park Haneul cheered excitedly.
"Oh! SuyeonDanjang-nim with 30,000!
Current highest bid!"
The bidding stopped.
"No more bids? Starting countdown!"
To my mom?
Kindergarten uniform dance, panty flashes— I could endure all that.
But not mom.
"5!"
Park Haneul's countdown began.
"4!"
Strange rumors don't matter.
They're not true anyway.
"3!"
Sexual harassment? I'm originally male so whatever.
"2!"
But if I back down here, I'll keep getting pushed around.
...Can't have that.
With trembling hands, I pulled my phone from my pocket.
Mom.
"1! Sold—"
The dial tone echoed through the studio speakers.
Boo—
"Oh!? She's really calling!?"
Park Haneul stopped counting and grabbed the mic.
"Wait! Wait! Viewers, this is real!
The rookie is actually calling her mom!"
Boo—
The chat went wild.
[Holy shit she's actually calling?]
[Look at her shaking hands]
[How will mom react to this]
[Please don't pick up TT]
[Pick up pick up]
Boo—
Third ring.
The phone felt heavy as iron.
Boo—
Ding.
[Keunson Gom has gifted 50,000 balloons!]
"......Huh?"
Silence fell over the studio.
50,000. 5 million won cash.
The highest bid of today's entire auction.
Park Haneul broke into a wide grin.
"KEUN! SON! GOM! NIM! 50,000!!
What's the mission!?"
[Keunson Gom: Cancel phone mission. Just sing one song you're good at]
...What?
No, that's not important right now.
I quickly canceled the call.
At that moment, a tearing scream erupted from behind.
"Oppa!!? Why there!! Those were my balloons!!!"
It was Arin.
Even without her mic, the studio shook from her shriek.
Why would Arin's whale come to me...?
"Any higher?
...Sold!"
Park Haneul declared.
Arin's screams were no longer audible.
[MASSIVE GOM LOLOLOLOL]
[LOLOL heard Arin's raw scream all the way here]
[Escaping the pond depends on IQ LOLOL]
[Arin pack your bags LOL your chairman got NTR'd by Wolha!]
***
I took the mic from Park Haneul.
Closed my eyes.
I don't know why he gave me this mission but...
"The one person who always watches me..."
A clear voice cut through the studio air.
"That single person called you."
The kindergarten uniform, soaked through to show my skin, felt uncomfortable.
"Always waiting for me."
Since when could I sing this well?
Just how much am I changing?
"Even if it's a lie, that's fine."
The singing voice reached beyond the stage to the chat.
[Damn what's with that voice]
[Sings so well]
[Singing with such sorrow but why's the lower half reacting...?]
[Face and body completely out of sync]
[Look at the sweat beads on her chest]
[Amazing]
"When that day comes, hold me."
The song ended.
As I lowered the mic, I slightly bowed toward the camera.
"Keunson Gom-nim, how was it?"
[Keunson Gom: Bliss]
"If interested, please visit my channel too!"
[Keunson Gom: Going now]
"Thank you!"
As I turned around, my legs gave out slightly and I staggered.
No one saw that, right?
I quickly returned to my seat and opened my channel on my phone.
['Keunson Gom' has entered Wolha's channel.]
['Keunson Gom' has taken the chairman seat.]
[Keunson Gom: So when's next stream?]
A chairman who donates 1 million won monthly.
Still far from paying off all debts but...
Good start.
"After today's Excel ends, I'll go live as soon as I get home.
And thank you for earlier."
[Keunson Gom: Hehe]
Now only the team battle remains.
5 vs 4 vs 1.
A match I'm destined to lose.
But... this penalty isn't really a penalty for me, is it?
---
[Streamer Gallery]
Title: Live Arin's chairman gets NTR'd by Wolha LOLOLOLOL
ㅇㅇ: Keunson Gom fed Arin for over a year but switched today LOL
ㅇㅇ: Hear Arin's raw scream earlier? She's crying blood now LOLOL
Arin's Guardians: Arin oppa's here don't lose heart TT
ㅇㅇ: 100-balloon peasants talking shit LOL
ㅇㅇ: 5 mil for one song LOL Keunson Gom's quite the simp
ㅇㅇ: But Wolha's expression when holding the phone was kinda hot... First time seeing her break
ㅇㅇ: Got hard instantly
ㅇㅇ: Sings damn well too
ㅇㅇ: Why was someone like this a hakko?
ㅇㅇ: But Wolha's penalty's confirmed right? How does 1-person team win?
ㅇㅇ: Suyeon planned this right? Made 1-person team to guarantee penalty
ㅇㅇ: Last season Jisook lost all whales after face-wash penalty and retired
ㅇㅇ: Bare face reveal right after getting first whale would be the end
ㅇㅇ: Honestly with that face, bare might be prettier?
ㅇㅇ: BS female streamer bare faces require brain cells LOL
---