Chapter 164: Damn, Min Hayoon, Part 1

Hayoon changed into her underwear, lay down on the makeshift bed, and pulled the covers over herself. She was staying here tonight.

She could tolerate the realistic depictions of cockroaches and rats in the game.

Those were disgusting, not scary.

The real problem was the game’s unsettlingly realistic scenarios: eyes peering from inside a streetlamp, driverless late-night buses and taxis, an elevator button for a nonexistent basement level four in a building with only three basement levels.

These details, combined with a bit of imagination, were enough to make her feel suffocated with fear.

Her office, the Igloo, was located in a residential area.

To get home, she had to walk through dimly lit alleyways, take a late-night bus, enter her building through the shared entrance, and then take the elevator.

It was a daunting prospect for someone as easily frightened as Hayoon, especially at this hour.

If she left now, it would be past midnight by the time she got home.

Unable to admit she was too scared to go home after playing a horror game, she texted her mother, Yoon Su-hee, saying she’d work late and head home in the morning.

She closed her eyes, hoping to fall asleep quickly.

Jo A-yeong, enjoying her smooth post-debut Vtuber life, and Hong Seo-hyun, wrapping up her stream, were still in their sound booths, but the sound didn’t reach the workspace.

She planned to ignore the faint noises and drift off, but…

“If you’re scared, why don’t you sleep with unnie tonight?”

She opened her eyes to find Hong Seo-hyun climbing into bed with her.

“What are you doing?”

“Aren’t you staying here because you’re scared? That horror game had late-night buses, taxis, all sorts of creepy stuff.”

“So?”

“It’s a long way to your place, so I figured you didn’t want to go home tonight.”

Hayoon tried to deflect, but Hong Seo-hyun’s logic was sound.

She had no counterargument.

“How did you know I was here?”

“Your shoes are by the door.”

“Oh…”

Hayoon fell silent, momentarily speechless.

Having Hong Seo-hyun so close behind her made it difficult to speak.

“…”

“What?”

“Nothing…”

Hong Seo-hyun was equally speechless.

She had simply climbed into bed, intending to sleep, but as she embraced Hayoon from behind, she realized Hayoon wasn’t wearing anything other than her underwear.

It was just…

‘Skin.’

Bare skin.

She could feel Hayoon’s smooth skin all the way up to her navel.

“Why are you touching me?”

“Oh, uh, sorry…”

Hong Seo-hyun quickly retracted her hand, clearing her throat.

Hayoon considered Hong Seo-hyun’s actions.

‘What kind of signal is this?’

Actions spoke louder than words.

Climbing into bed and touching someone’s bare skin had a clear implication…

‘No way.’

It was unlikely.

Her relationship with Hong Seo-hyun was complicated.

Sometimes, they were inseparable. Other times, they were distant.

In high school, they had been close until the mirror incident, then drifted apart.

They had reconnected at the hotel, becoming incredibly close, but with Trinity’s debut preparations, they had barely spent any time together.

‘It can’t be.’

The heart-to-heart conversation at the hotel had brought them closer, but this time, there hadn’t been anything like that.

She didn’t expect anything to happen…

“Hmm…”

But Hong Seo-hyun’s breathing against the back of her neck felt… heavy.

No, it wasn’t just a feeling. It was heavy.

Hong Seo-hyun’s breath tickled her skin.

‘This is awkward…’

Should she let Hong Seo-hyun stay like this? Even if she didn’t ask her to leave, shouldn’t she at least put some clothes on?

The situation felt… precarious.

As these confusing thoughts swirled in Hayoon’s mind…

“I’m leaving.”

“What?”

“I’m going home. This bed is too small.”

“Oh… okay. Goodnight.”

“Yeah… goodnight.”

Hong Seo-hyun abruptly got out of bed and left.

Hayoon stared after her, dumbfounded.

“Nothing happened. That’s a relief.”

Convinced it had just been an awkward moment, she relaxed, resting her head on the pillow and closing her eyes.

However…

“Wow… that was weird…”

Hong Seo-hyun had felt a surge of desire for Hayoon, both physical and emotional.

And since Hayoon had also engaged in intimate moments with Hong Seo-hyun in the past…

Their dynamic was about to change.

Three days passed.

Hayoon, as always, focused on her illustration work.

Her main source of income was creating Live2D virtual avatars.

Hayoon, the illustrator, and Choi Arin, the rigger, were a powerful duo.

With Scarlet and Trinity, members of BGG Company, serving as living portfolios, and the booming Vtuber industry, they were unstoppable.

Their schedule was fully booked until the end of the year.

“Hayoon, can I come in?”

Hong Seo-hyun knocked on the workspace door.

What was it? She was 20 minutes earlier than usual.

“Yes, come in.”

Hayoon quickly saved her work and turned around.

“…”

“Unnie?”

“Why? Oh, um, nothing…”

“Nothing? What is it?”

Hong Seo-hyun stood there in full makeup, wearing a frilly blouse and a tennis skirt.

Hayoon was so flustered she didn’t know what to say.

“Hayoon.”

“Yes?”

Hong Seo-hyun sat down on the makeshift bed, crossing her legs.

Hayoon’s eyes were drawn to the way her thighs pressed together.

‘What is she doing?’

Hayoon couldn’t tear her eyes away.

The members of BGG Company, while varying in bust size, all had beautiful faces and shapely legs.

Hong Seo-hyun was no exception.

“I’m working.”

Remembering the awkward encounter on this very bed a few days ago, Hayoon subtly hinted that Hong Seo-hyun should leave.

She had initially intended to ask why Hong Seo-hyun was early, but now she felt uncomfortable.

She sensed a strange determination in Hong Seo-hyun, something akin to a gladiator preparing for battle. She wanted to avoid whatever was coming.

“It’s not urgent, is it? Can you come talk to me for a bit?”

“Hmm…”

She was refused. It wasn’t an unreasonable request, so Hayoon reluctantly agreed.

“Fine. What is it?”

“Hayoon.”

“Yes?”

Hayoon responded curtly, feeling increasingly uneasy.

“Can we… go back to how we were before?”

“What do you mean? When were we different? I’ve always played games with you, worked on content with you.

I’ve always spent time with you.”

“…But…”

Hayoon’s unease persisted.

Hong Seo-hyun, who had often boasted about the convenience of being a Vtuber, requiring no makeup or elaborate preparations unlike traditional streamers, was here in full makeup and a date-like outfit.

The alarm bells in Hayoon’s head were ringing.

“Not that.”

Hong Seo-hyun finally got to the point.

What else could she be referring to?

The physical intimacy they had shared.

Perhaps the few times they had shared a bed recently had emboldened her.

“Unnie, what are you doing?”

“What?”

“You’re a pure-hearted Vtuber. Pure-hearted.”

Hayoon tried to reason with her.

But…

“So?”

Hong Seo-hyun knew exactly what she wanted.

“We need to think about our fans. Besides, we’re a bit too old for that kind of thing…”

“What are you talking about? We’re only twenty, twenty-one.”

“That’s not what I…”

“Why? I’m an adult now. Do you think I can’t control myself?”

Hong Seo-hyun had always preferred to take the lead.

“I want to, Hayoon. Just let me.”

Her forceful approach made Hayoon’s head spin.

‘She knows she can’t leave me even if she wants to because of our contract…’

Hong Seo-hyun’s boldness was overwhelming. It was almost easier to just give in.

“We can just hold hands, hug, and kiss. Like we did before things got busy.”

Hayoon didn’t believe it would end there.

If it would, Hong Seo-hyun wouldn’t have mentioned self-control.