Chapter 75

There were things that had to be done, even if they were embarrassing.

After receiving the email addresses of the winners, Seol sent out high-end chocolate gift certificates, sparking a minor uproar on the internet.

[Writer: Anonymous] [Title: I won chocolate from the channel, but what’s going on here?]

[I thought the gift certificate would be worth at least 1000 won and up to 5000 won…

100,000 won set of handcrafted chocolates—what is going on???]

-[It’s definitely fake]

-[What weird concept is this?]

-[It would be more believable if it were around 20,000 won or said to be 100,000 won—no one would believe that.]

-[What, did they sprinkle gold dust on the chocolate to make it 100,000 won??]

At first, everyone thought it was just trolling for attention.

However, with 20 winners confirmed and numerous posts verifying the gifts, the public couldn’t help but believe.

People began commenting on Seol’s unconventional behavior.

[Writer: Anonymous] [Title: 100,000 won times 20 winners equals 2 million?]

[Oh my gosh, this is ridiculous. She must have so much money…]

-[She simply doesn’t know how to handle all her money.]

-[Me too, give me some too!]

-[Hold on, aren’t these for the ‘viewers’?]

-[Who are we kidding, we’re ‘friends’ of Seol.]

-[That’s expensive friendship.]

-[Why should she even give friendship fees?]

-[Well, it’s because she’s Seol…]

-[Me too! I watched the stream! Give me some too!!]

-[You need to beat the 1000-to-1 odds first.]

-[Once she gets married, all this becomes our joint property. It’s a bit wasteful giving to other men.]

-[But I forgive her because I’m a generous guy.]

-[Crazy person.]

-[Step aside! I’m her husband!]

-[Did you even get her consent?]

-[Not a chance, right?]

-[Okay, arrest them all.]

[Writer: Anonymous] [Title: Is this streamer really that rich? X or O]

[Unbelievable envy. Ten in a row!]

-[She’s got a great voice, plays games well, has a great chest, and now she’s rich—how am I supposed to live with that?]

-[So… we must worship her, right…?]

-[Seol! Seol! Seol!]

-[Top contender for the best female streamer to marry, according to polling.]

-[Honest truth—I want to marry her.]

Of course, with the nature of community sites, there were bound to be people who were overly critical about her lavish spending: “Real rich people don’t waste money like that,” “She must not have had proper upbringing,” “Her spending habits are strange,” “Typical nouveau riche behavior,” and more.

How many rich people have they met to confidently say that “real rich people don’t do this?”

Seol had simply sent chocolates without much calculation—just something viewers wouldn’t usually have a chance to try.

The controversy around the expensive chocolates? Truly, anything can become a controversy.

Additionally, there were pointless debates about whether 100,000 won was really that much money, but those details are best left out.

But amid all this, one person was uneasy for a completely different reason—Seol’s YouTube editor, Gim Yeong-sang.

While scrolling through numerous posts by the winners, he thought:

…Why didn’t I get anything?

…Really, nothing at all?

He hadn’t even met Seol in person yet!

Not even once!

And he worked like a dog for her!

Communication only through the internet.

Gim Yeong-sang—[Boss, today’s video]

Gim Yeong-sang—[Are we uploading the dagger buns part too?]

After the broadcast ended the day before, he hesitated greatly before asking his streamer something he rarely dared to.

It was too valuable a source to give up on.

In a world where people do everything possible to gain more fame—even the slightest chance to grow their audience mattered.

A video of Victory being defeated in his forte?

That would surely guarantee attention, aggro, and guaranteed views.

But naturally, it would also bring shame to the streamer herself.

And a bit of hate comments.

Hence, her consent was essential.

Editing without her permission would overstep boundaries.

Legender—[Of course it has to be cut.]

Legender—[Obviously.]

Legender—[Please do that for all similar cases in the future.]

Gim Yeong-sang—[Yes.]

Two potential viewership cheat codes: a slightly risqué female streamer and a superstar like Victory.

And she was giving them up?

No matter how much it hurt, it couldn’t be helped.

The shame would be on Seol, not him.

He couldn’t feel embarrassed on her behalf.

If the owner says cut, it must be cut.

The owner being Jung Min Hee.

“Man, this is one unique workplace.”

Which streamer operation runs like this?

To what extent does one need to conceal their identity to put up a front of a fictitious CEO?

To what extent does one need to be secretive that Gim Yeong-sang has never even seen his streamer’s face?

Judging by the spending habits, his paycheck would never be delayed, and the contract was incredibly favorable.

Still, why did the emptiness in his heart feel like a gaping hole?

A lack of trust.

One can’t trust someone they’ve never met.

But without a chance to meet, trust can never be earned, can it?

That’s why there’s no chocolate, right?

“Work. Keep working.”

It was impossible to throw a tantrum and demand a meeting for no reason.

Should he try fabricating some excuse? Like asking for a meeting because he’s hurt?

That’d make him look insane.

That day, Gim Yeong-sang was editing videos all by himself in an office where even Jung Min Hee hadn’t shown up.

“Mr. Gim, looks like you’re already here. I was just about to call you.”

Suddenly, Jung Min Hee arrived.

She delivered a shocking piece of information to Gim Yeong-sang.

“Seol will be here soon.”

“Huh?”

“She said she would drop off some brownies.”

“Whaaat!?”

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Intentionally pressed, out of consideration for the occupants inside, though she could have simply walked in.

Jung Min Hee rushed to open the door.

“Welcome!”

“Hello.”

Finally, Gim Yeong-sang saw her.

The mysterious streamer Seol, the stuff of legend and dreams.

As memories of all the online interactions flooded back, he swore he wouldn’t show the slightest disappointment, no matter how plain or ordinary she might look.

Determined, he faced his employer—and froze.

A shriek escaped his lips as he stood rooted.

There, at the door, stood someone beyond his imagination—a stunning beauty.

Even Jung Min Hee hadn’t mentioned how extraordinarily pretty Seol was.

A comment from the internet earlier came to mind:

“She’s got a great voice, plays games well, has big breasts, and is rich—how am I supposed to live with that?”

Add to that—she’s incredibly beautiful.

“Is this an idol who took a wrong turn?”

Gim Yeong-sang, who had spent time watching girl group clips to fine-tune his YouTube editing skills—not for any personal bias, just for practice, honestly—thought that even the most legendary idols couldn’t hold a candle to the beauty before him now.

It was as though she belonged in an anime, ready to battle an anime character like Venus, the goddess of beauty.

“Nice to meet you. I’m the streamer Seol.”

“Kim Yeong-sang! Greetings, Master!”

“Master?”

The atmosphere tightened abruptly.

Had it been the opposite gender, there would have been bursts of laughter. Life was harsh to those who weren’t blessed with beauty.

Seol hesitated, hand hovering over the shoulder bag where the brownies were hidden.

Is it really okay to give brownies to someone like this?

He might become a stalker or something…

“It was a slip! I don’t think anything like that normally!”

“Well, it’s fine. Creators do need some imagination.”

She took a step back as she said this.

“No, I wasn’t thinking anything like that!”

“What thoughts are you referring to? Mr. Gim.”

Jung Min Hee interjected, teasing Gim Yeong-sang.

“It’s all a misunderstanding.”

Then Seol looked more serious than necessary.

“If you’re going to continue working with me, you absolutely cannot fall for me.”

She’d faced her fair share of confessions already.

Under normal circumstances, one might have thought she was crazy or had some sort of complex, but the moment you laid eyes on her face, it all made perfect sense.

She needed to constantly put up an impenetrable wall; without it, everyone around her would fall under her spell.

It simply made too much sense.

“Understood.”

Gim Yeong-sang’s response earned him a passing grade.

People who say things like “That’ll never happen” should be treated with caution.

Such remarks often act as a death flag.

Responses like “I’ll try” or “I’ll keep it in mind” were much more favorable.

“As you might know, Valentine’s is the day women give chocolates to men in Japan and Korea. But in the U.S., it’s about giving to the people you’re grateful for. This is the American style.”

There was no need for such a lengthy explanation. They wouldn’t have misunderstood anyway.

Their first impression: Awful.

At the same time, however, Gim Yeong-sang felt a deep sense of happiness.

He learned Seol was a stunning beauty and received handmade brownies.

It was a choice well made to work here.

“Oh, and please don’t tell anyone how incredibly beautiful I am. It’s a secret. Don’t tell anyone.”

Indeed, feigning modesty with that face would be deceitful, almost a mockery of the world.

It’s only right for someone with that face to know how beautiful they are.

Gim Yeong-sang nodded in agreement.

Even if she had unintentionally moaned during the previous day’s stream, leading to a major embarrassment, Seol still extended a token of thanks through handmade brownies, successfully breaking the ice with her editor.

Once again, she took another step forward in her social journey.