Chapter 36: If You Can’t Beat Them, Join Them – 1
by fnovelpia
Collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration
They sound like such nice words.
In this cutthroat modern society, they’re an offer to join hands and combine strength— practically no different from a declaration of alliance, wouldn’t you say?
It’s a virtue that holds up even outside the world of sickles and hammers,
even in capitalist society.
But…
It’s different when it’s written on paper.
Like the difference between a friend asking, “Hey, got any spare change?” in front of a claw machine, and a school bully asking the same thing in a narrow alley.
Even if the words are the same,
the meaning behind them isn’t.
“….”
Tuesday morning.
Sitting at an outdoor table in front of a convenience store, I reread the document in my hands.
[ABCD x RD2 Collaboration Proposal]
[ARK Network Co., Ltd. Production Division]
Rustle—
Dozens of pages filled with carefully chosen ambiguous phrasing— just enough that any legal challenge could be brushed off as a “difference in interpretation.”
Yet, the underlying intent still seeped through.
[…A joint showcase centered around ABCD and Romantic Drive, to be co-hosted…]
[…Through this joint venture, mutual brand synergy and new marketing effects…]
[…By leveraging the collaborative experience, solidifying both brands’ market value…]
– So, what exactly are you?
– Let’s take a peek at your hand.
– How deep do your pockets really go?
That was the gist of it.
It was a signal—
a predator sizing up its prey before the kill.
The language was impeccably rational,
Almost feminine in its precision.
“….”
I could picture the person on the other side of this document.
Probably some high-strung young team leader who’d studied mergers and acquisitions in the U.S., then raced through Korea’s elite corporate ladder at record speed— the type who’d pull all-nighters strategizing like this.
‘But someone like that in the VTuber market?’
This wasn’t just a risk—
it was practically a death wish.
A lone wolf brimming with experimental spirit.
Not the type to attract followers.
For someone like that to make it to team leader in a conglomerate, they’d either need family ties to the executive level or be part of the founding lineage.
‘Some exec’s granddaughter, back from her royal road in the States, speeding through her career while leaving a trail of chaos?’
“….”
‘At the very least, they’re not one of the monsters at the top.’
The ‘monsters’ operated differently— you could tell from the stench.
To them, sudden ‘market variables’ were better off removed— physically.
The law?
Less relevant than a scandal or the waters off Incheon’s coast.
But the other party didn’t do that.
Once again, I was certain.
What lay beyond the documents was a person.
“Then…”
I placed the documents on the table.
“…”
There was nothing particular to handle.
If they moved honestly according to market logic, then…
This was a battle between the VTuber company and the VTuber company’s fair reconnaissance.
It was still the same old ABCD fight.
“…”
All I had to do was prepare the ammunition they needed to fight.
‘If we confirm the solid structure of Big Plan A Company and Off-Enter, they’ll adjust their strategy and pull back… At the very least, Ayeong won’t be in danger. Still, we should throw in some deterrents to keep them from pushing too hard.’
Thinking that, I slipped dozens of pages of documents into a yellow envelope.
Thud—
‘Romantic Drive, huh? I should go check it out at least once.’
It’d be better to know what kind of world it was, what kind of atmosphere it had…
“…I see.”
“Hey!”
Tap!
A small palm poked my back.
“What’s up with you?”
“?!”
At the familiar voice, I instinctively turned around.
“Boss, what’re you looking at?” “…”
A fragrant breeze.
Along with the scorching early summer morning sunlight, golden hair swayed softly.
Beneath the baseball cap, a mischievous smile hid in the shadows.
Ayeong was staring at me with curious eyes.
And in my hand was a document that only [Big Man] could hold.
“…”
This…
I didn’t expect this.
*
Sunwoo Taek blinked at Aki.
“…”
“…”
The two met again in front of the convenience store just a day later.
Aki had returned even though it wasn’t her shift.
For a moment, silence lingered between them.
One sat awkwardly, holding a yellow document envelope, while the other stood with hands behind their back, leaning slightly forward to observe.
Judging by the composition alone,
It looked perfectly friendly.
Yet, an awkward silence flowed.
“…”
“…”
Aki was the first to break it.
“Surprised?”
“…”
“Manager?”
“…”
“Manager~!”
She tilted her head playfully,
waving her hand in front of Sunwoo Taek’s eyes.
Flap,
Flap.
“…”
His eyes quietly followed her palm.
Then that palm touched his damp cheek.
Tap!
Aki flinched and pulled her hand away.
“Ew, sweat.”
“…”
She dug into her pocket, pulled out a yellow handkerchief, and wiped her hand.
Then, she dabbed Sunwoo Taek’s cheek a few times to dry the sweat.
“It’s summer— why are you sitting outside?”
“…Just looking at something.”
“Ohhh… What is it?”
“Business documents.”
“What kind of business?”
“…”
Sunwoo Taek’s mouth slowly opened and closed, but Aki cut him off with another playful remark, her tone oddly defensive.
“Hehe, not like I’d understand even if you told me. Everything you look at seems so complicated. I was just, y’know, messing around.”
“…”
After hearing that,
Sunwoo Taek slowly closed the envelope.
Then, in his usual calm voice, he asked,
“What brings you here?”
“…Just hanging out. You said I could come anytime, remember?”
“…”
“Huh? Wh-what’s with that reaction…?”
Faced with Sunwoo Taek’s silence,
Aki pouted and struck a strange pose— like the emergency exit sign of a fleeing person.
Exaggerated, but a gesture to mask her genuine fluster.
“S-should I leave, then? Sniff…”
“…”
Seonwoo Taek quietly shook his head.
“No. Go up to the break room and rest comfortably.”
“…”
Silence flowed between them once again.
“…” “…”
The exaggerated smile faded from Aki’s face.
A slightly lonely expression took its place.
“Did I… suddenly come and bother you? I’m sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”
“…”
Seonwoo Taek shook his head again.
“No. I was just a little surprised, that’s all.”
“The boss gets surprised?”
“Yes, even I get surprised sometimes.”
“Oh… W-what surprised you…?”
“Just…”
Rustle—
He fiddled with the paper bag as he spoke.
“…I didn’t expect Ah-young to come back.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not your part-time hours.”
“You told me to come visit, Boss.”
“…”
Seonwoo Taek thought for a moment before replying. He seemed to want to explain the situation as logically as possible.
“…Just, from Ah-young’s perspective.”
“From my perspective?”
“Isn’t it boring?”
“?”
Aki tilted her head slowly.
“What is?”
“Me.”
“?”
She shook her head side to side. Her yellow hair shimmered under the summer sunlight.
“No, I think you’re fun.”
“…”
“That’s why I came back.”
“…”
“What about you, Boss?”
“…”
Seonwoo Taek fell silent for a moment.
Then, as he folded the paper bag slightly, he gave a quiet nod.
“…You’re welcome. Stay as long as you like and rest here. That’s your space, so you don’t need my permission. I was just surprised— it’s not something I’d refuse.”
“!”
Aki’s smile bloomed again. For a brief moment, she had worried, Did I come here for no reason? But his familiar attitude put her at ease.
‘So the boss does get surprised… I thought he was fine with anything since he watches the stock charts go up and down without changing his expression…’
Maybe her teasing had gone a bit too far.
Aki quietly made up her mind.
“….”
In front of this person,
I should approach slowly so as not to startle them.
I should wave my hand so they can see me…
And then, I stepped inside the convenience store.
I wanted to apologize for this awkward atmosphere.
When I came back out,
I was holding two ice creams in my hand.
“Ta-da! This one’s for you, Jang-nim! My treat.”
“…Thank you.”
The two of them sat side by side at an outdoor table.
“You didn’t have any schedules today, huh?”
“Nope! So I had a meeting, but, well… Uh, ah… right. Um….”
“If it’s company confidentiality, you don’t have to say anything.”
“Ah, yeah… Thanks for being considerate. Um, more importantly! I have some really great news.”
“Okay.”
“It’s a huge cover….”
“….”
Aki opened and closed her mouth a few times,
Then scratched her head and laughed awkwardly.
“Uh, is this something I shouldn’t talk about either? I’m not really sure.”
“If it’s about a collaboration or an internal company matter still in progress, it’s better not to mention it.”
“Ah, ahaha… W-well, then I guess I have nothing to say. Ehehe.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
“So I should just sit here quietly?”
“If that makes you feel more at ease, A-young-ssi.”
“….”
She replied.
“Thank you.”
“….”
After that,
The two of them sat side by side without another word.
Nothing happened,
No incident took place.
It wasn’t even part-time work.
Just.
Being together.
“….”
“….”
Even so, Aki quietly thought to herself.
‘…I’m glad I came.’
*
《Live Now: [R.D.2] Danhwi’s Regular Broadcast: Today’s Log (#June 22)》
-Current Viewers: 11,072
A black-haired, intellectual-looking beauty smiled faintly.
Her crisp, announcer-like voice and articulation were pleasant just to listen to.
“Didn’t you all think it was really hot today, Daniel? I stepped outside yesterday and— Whoosh!— It was so hot that I thought, ‘Ah, summer’s really here now.’ But you know what? I decided to try enjoying the heat this time.”
– Enjoying? 😱😱
– Lmao 😂😂😂
– LOLOLOL has the heat fried her brain? 😂😂😂😂😂
– It’s already crazy hot fr 😂😂😂
“Like this! Shoo-shock! Dodging around like a ninja looking for shade made my commute to work feel fun, you know? How about it? Want to try it with me, Daniel? Shoo-shock! Wow! So fun! Life in Helban is fun—!”
– This noona’s weird LOL 😂
– She sounds calm but totally lost it 😂😂😂
– What’s with the announcer voice doing this bit?
[User ‘Garasadæ’ donated 50,000 Pajik!]
「Noona, your voice is so nice, I wanna hear it when I’m lonely—read me a book, heheung.」
“Oh! Thank you for the donation. ‘Noona, your voice is so nice, I wanna hear it when I’m lonely—read me a book, heheung.’ Ah~ a book? Sure. Maybe I’ll do a manga reading sometime? Back in college, I recorded myself reading children’s books, and the response was amazing.”
– Lmao she just read that out loud
– OMG red pill energy 😱😱
– Feels like talking to a weird 😭 bot 😂😂😂
– Even amid the bizarre chat,
Her composure didn’t waver.
Romantic Drive’s Danhwi prided herself on maintaining a calm, clean atmosphere— like a radio broadcast.
That’s why those who disliked the rough, chaotic style of typical streamers gathered here.
“Now then, moving on to today’s topic— soon, there’ll be some good news—”
And then.
Big Man appeared.
[User ‘Big Man’ donated 1,000,000 Pajik!]
The chat exploded.
– ?
– ???
– Wth
– Lmao 😂
– Huh?
– ??
– Is this real?
– ?????
– Why is Big Man here??
And then—
Danhwi broke into a cold sweat.
“Uh, eh… huh? Wha—?”
This bastard.
Why’s he showing up here?
‘We’re not supposed to mention the collab yet…?’
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