Chapter 159: Concert ends, daily life continues, Part 1

“It’s over…”

In a motion capture studio in Seoul, where the concert was being streamed, Hong Seo-hyun emerged from the shower, refreshed, and collapsed onto the sofa in the adjacent dressing room.

“Haa…”

She had gained confidence midway through the performance, but now, with the stage behind her, showered, and changed into comfortable clothes, the tension finally drained away, leaving her feeling pleasantly languid.

She would have liked to watch her juniors perform, but the studio had thoughtfully provided a comfortable sofa in the dressing room, making it impossible to resist.

This was force majeure.

“Just a short rest… I’m exhausted…”

Hong Seo-hyun curled up on the sofa like a cat and closed her eyes.

Hayoon, the on-site MC, had spent about seven minutes setting the mood and guiding the event.

Hong Seo-hyun had performed three songs, interspersed with comments, for 13 minutes.

The remaining 40 minutes were divided among the three new Vtubers in a one-hour time-attack concert.

Having sung with barely a moment to catch her breath, she drifted off to sleep.

And then, just as she began to breathe softly…

“Whoa!”

She jolted awake.

It felt like the jolt of electricity that wakes you up when you fall asleep at your school desk.

“Time…”

Relieved, she checked her phone.

Only a few minutes had passed. Like panicking after dozing off in class, she had only been asleep for about 20 minutes.

“Haa… I thought I’d slept for hours…”

Scratching her slightly messy hair, she stepped outside to find Seo Ji-woo in the middle of a cover song performance.

Everyone knew Seo Ji-woo was a talented singer, and Hong Seo-hyun had already heard her sing during rehearsals.

Yawning, she looked around.

“Focus a little more to the left. Show her profile.”

“Yes, sir.”

The motion capture team was deeply engrossed in filming, so she couldn’t linger.

She had just stepped out for some fresh air and looked up at the clear winter sky above Seoul.

“I feel like I’ve accomplished something incredible.”

Hong Seo-hyun was in high spirits.

She had performed at a concert, a rite of passage for successful Vtubers, and she had nailed it.

Now, she just needed to share some anecdotes on her stream tomorrow, and the donations would roll in.

A barrage of ₩1,000 donations would come flying in with messages of congratulations, condolences, and pleas for the concert footage.

“All I did was sing, chat a bit like I do on my streams, and wear a unique outfit…”

Was she feeling too much accomplishment for such a simple task? Lost in thought, Hong Seo-hyun suddenly shivered.

Even with global warming, December was still winter.

She was cold without a coat.

Rubbing her hands together, she turned to go back inside when…

– Ding.

A message arrived.

– It’s me. Can you ask the others if they’re up for a celebratory dinner after their shoot?

It was Hayoon.

She had mentioned having other commitments after the concert.

It seemed she planned to take a taxi to Seoul as soon as she was finished.

“Okay… Let’s eat something delicious…”

Hong Seo-hyun typed with her numb fingers.

“… Typo.”

She was freezing.

Time to go back inside.

“Huh…!”

Yes, that’s what she had been thinking.

Hayoon had suggested a dinner, and Hong Seo-hyun had been looking forward to a feast. But…

“You’re awake?”

She was in her bed.

Hayoon sat in the chair opposite her.

“Uh… what?”

What had happened? Hong Seo-hyun was bewildered.

“You blacked out.”

“Huh?”

Hayoon sounded accusatory.

“Doesn’t anything seem strange?”

“Well…”

Hayoon continued her cryptic questioning, as if urging Hong Seo-hyun to recall her mistake.

Hong Seo-hyun racked her brains, her head throbbing.

She must have had a bit too much to drink…

“How can someone pass out after one glass of somaek?!”

Finally, Hayoon lost her patience and yelled.

Here’s what had happened.

Upon hearing about the dinner, Seo Ji-woo, Baek-seol, and Jo A-yeong were all in.

They eagerly anticipated a free meal, waiting for Hayoon at a cafe near the restaurant.

It was a Korean restaurant specializing in Hanwoo beef, with affordable soju, beer, and bokbunja wine…

“This is crazy… You don’t remember anything?”

“I… I’m sorry…”

“It’s not entirely your fault.”

Jo A-yeong had gone wild mixing somaek.

Using her “expertise” from her previous job, she concocted a potent mix that no ordinary high school graduate could handle.

Hong Seo-hyun had one glass.

Choi Arin and Baek-seol had about three before passing out.

The champion was Jo A-yeong, who managed to down six glasses before eventually succumbing.

It was a classic example of how cutthroat company dinners, where people drink until someone drops, often end with everyone blacking out.

“Haa… I need to ban alcohol at company dinners.”

The aftermath fell upon the sober high school senior duo.

Baek-seol and Jo A-yeong were picked up by their parents.

Choi Arin, whose apartment was near Seo Ji-woo’s, was escorted home by her.

“Anyway, that’s why I brought you here. Understand?”

“Oh…”

The pieces finally clicked into place, and Hong Seo-hyun covered her face with her hands.

She remembered now.

But…

“What… what time is it?”

“2 AM.”

“Huh?”

“2 AM. I initially planned to call your parents too, but they’re both out of town…”

The unspoken implication was clear: that’s why Hayoon was here.

Hong Seo-hyun recalled mentioning earlier in the evening that her parents were away and that she couldn’t drink much.

Hayoon had intended to keep an eye on her, but Hong Seo-hyun had passed her limit after just one glass and started nodding off before Hayoon could intervene.

“I didn’t want you wandering around drunk, so I told my mom I’d stay over at your place.

Just to keep an eye on you.”

“Ahaha… uh…”

Embarrassed, Hong Seo-hyun chuckled awkwardly and swallowed, her throat thick with the remnants of alcohol.

She felt awful.

She reached for the mug of water on her nightstand…

“Huh?”

Something felt off.

She never brought drinks into her room.

She always drank by the water purifier.

The mug here meant…

“You were groaning and complaining about being thirsty, so I took care of you.”

Hayoon had stayed by her side until 2 AM, tending to her.

Mortified, Hong Seo-hyun burrowed her face into the pillow.

She wanted to disappear.

How embarrassing to make such a spectacle of herself in front of someone who barely drank.

Then…

“Well, I should get going. I live next door, and since you’re awake, I don’t need to stay any longer.”

Hayoon stood up, preparing to leave.

She would have left Baek-seol or Jo A-yeong without a second thought.

However, she remembered how much Choi Arin had struggled after being tricked into drinking too much at the hotel by Hong Seo-hyun…

She couldn’t leave the two inexperienced drinkers unattended.

So, she had paired Choi Arin with Seo Ji-woo and personally looked after Hong Seo-hyun, whose parents were away.

“I’m getting sleepy too…”

She was reaching her limit. Hayoon’s work often disrupted her sleep schedule, but she was currently maintaining a normal sleep pattern.

She was truly exhausted and needed to leave…

“…”

“Yes?”

“Stay… over?”

Hong Seo-hyun lightly tugged on Hayoon’s sleeve, unable to let her leave just like that. She felt too guilty.