Chapter 68 : …That’s what happened. Doesn’t it sound like something out of a drama?

…That happened. Doesn’t it feel like a drama?

After finishing my short one-week trip to Japan, I returned to Korea.

As soon as I arrived at the airport, I saw a sticky, obsessive post on the popular section of the cafe titled, “By now, they must be at the airport?” and let out a brief scoff.

I mean, why do these people care so much about my whereabouts?

Well, I already knew, but…

Their obsession is a bit excessive.

Even on my way home from the airport, my phone kept ringing.

Discord notifications, Twitter mentions, posts on various fan cafes.

“They all act like I’m some kind of kid.”

Why would I have any reason to be anxious?

It was just a trip, after all.

…Hmm. Well, it wasn’t just a trip.

I did meet that crazy woman, and I exchanged contact info with Sayo…

“Ugh. Forget it. Just forget it.”

Everything was resolved thanks to Bihangwoon.

I drew a clear line with the past, and there’s nothing left to hold me back.

So that means I can just start streaming like usual.

Thinking that, I turned on my computer as soon as I got to my room.

I have no idea how much my viewers will freak out this time.

I hesitated slightly, but soon sat in front of the screen and started the live stream.

“Everyone, I’m back.”

• Time that had stopped has started flowing again.
• We missed you, Yuki ㅠㅠㅠ
• How was Japan with those two kids?
• Just imagining that combination gives me a headache.

Oh dear. Just as expected.

“Wow. Really… Hmm. It was definitely an unforgettable experience.”

I wanted to emphasize that it was a historical moment of overcoming trauma, but of course, I couldn’t say that outright.

If Bihangwoon hadn’t intervened, this trip would have lasted much longer than planned.

Everything with Sakura, the incidents that happened along the way, and finally, sightseeing in Tokyo.

I paused for a moment, lost in thought, then naturally continued speaking.

“Well, a lot of things happened during the trip… but I still had a great time.”

• Yuki, judging by your expression, something definitely happened.
• No way… Did you get into trouble?
• Keanu Reeves comeback moment?

“Hey. Trouble? You’re making me sound like a troublemaker.”

• Aren’t you?
• Yeah, right. Stop pretending.

Tsk. I didn’t expect this kind of reaction.

I paused for a moment, let out a small laugh, and added,

“Bihangwoon really worked hard. She owed me a favor, after all…”

• ? Why is the manager suddenly being mentioned?
• No wonder the announcement was delayed.
• Poor girl, already busy enough…

“Hey, don’t look at it like that. There was nothing for you all to worry about.”

If even a tiny bit of my past leaks out, I know exactly how my viewers will react.

If this atmosphere continues, nothing good will come out of it.

“More importantly, I’m editing the vlog from Japan right now. I’ll be uploading it soon, so look forward to it.”

• Woooooaaaaaahhhhh!!!!
• Peak fanservice moment lol
• Will Yui and Misa be in it too?

“Of course! We filmed it all together. Their faces won’t be shown, but I’ll make sure you can feel the atmosphere of the moment.”

Honestly, it’ll feel more like a documentary than a vlog.

Thinking about Arin’s constantly shifting expressions, I let out a small chuckle.

“Anyway, you’ve all been waiting for a while, right? Since it’s been a long time, let’s chat a lot today.”

Not like I have anything else to do.

Ahh. Would be nice if another big event happened.

Feels like I’m addicted to dopamine or something.

After going through so much in Japan, I feel like doing something exciting again.

“So, about the fortune Yui got at the shrine…”

Well, nothing major will probably happen for a while.

I should just focus on streaming.

“Haa…”

The flickering fluorescent light trembled.

Outside, car horns occasionally sounded before fading away, and the faint noise of a neighbor’s TV leaked through the wall.

Bihangwoon had just returned from Tokyo.

It was time to return to everyday life, but a lingering sense of unfamiliarity still sat in one corner of their chest.

Bihangwoon rubbed the back of her neck with one hand.

The feeling of almost getting electrocuted was new, intriguing, and oddly amusing.

Maybe it was because the tension had finally lifted.

She felt a slight stiffness in her neck.

Slowly exhaling, she reached for the bottle on the small table.

Inside the clear glass bottle, golden liquid swayed.

“Haa…”

In the quiet room, her short sigh dissipated.

She tilted the bottle and poured the liquor slowly into a glass.

The whiskey filled the transparent glass.

Clink.

The sound of ice colliding echoed.

Her fingertips trembled slightly as she lifted the glass.

How long had it been since she last drank?

She couldn’t even remember.

Ever since coming back from Tokyo, she had been mindlessly worrying about Suhyun.

Only now did it feel like she could finally let go.

“Well, one drink should be fine.”

She muttered to herself.

Then, she quietly brought the glass to her lips.

Ssshh…

The distinctive sharp scent of whiskey brushed against her nose.

A heavy bitterness spread in her mouth.

As it slid down her throat, the ice slowly melted.

Bihangwoon placed the glass down for a moment and gazed up at the ceiling.

“That woman is done for now.”

Sakura had been dealt with.

Not only did she beat her up thoroughly, but she also took her phone and leaked all the data online.

Hanalive wouldn’t keep someone like her around, so she’d be disgracefully kicked out.

She had no regrets about that.

It’s just so satisfying.

But…

How should I put it?

That back alley on that day.

The expression on that woman’s face as she looked at me.

The emotions reflected in those pink eyes.

That image just won’t leave my mind.

It was just so damn disgusting. Or should I say, inhuman?

Bihangwoon picked up the glass again.

This time, she took a deeper sip.

“Khmm.”

A swallow. Larin.

She started to feel a slight buzz.

On the table, the bottle was still more than half full.

She slowly reached out and grabbed the bottle again.

Then, she stared at the poured liquor.

Even if I drink all of this, it won’t really matter.

I don’t have any plans for tomorrow anyway.

She let out a quiet laugh.

“Now, I finally feel like I’m back to reality.”

Muttering to herself, she took another drink.

As the alcohol flowed down her throat, her body slowly warmed up.

The intoxication was beginning to settle in.

This feeling wasn’t bad.

Bihangwoon tilted her head back slowly.

The old fluorescent light on the ceiling looked hazy.

She slowly closed her eyes.

And, just for a moment.

A really brief moment.

A scene from that cold night air, in the back alley, flashed in her mind.

‘Don’t ruin my paradise! You damn Joseon wench…! Agh!’

‘But dodging like this is easy. Left hook!’

It was amazing how such power and speed came from such a small body.

“Well, I won anyway.”

She smiled faintly.

It felt good knowing she had properly broken the ribs of the woman who bullied Suhyun.

Bihangwoon took another pleasant sip of her drink.

Then, without realizing it, she leaned her arms on the table and slowly rested her body against it.

The alcohol was starting to wrap around her brain.

Maybe I should get some work done before I get completely drunk.

Bihangwoon held onto her tipsy consciousness and turned on her monitor.

None of the Lumilive members were streaming right now… Only Suhyun was live.

[Haha! I’m serious! Guess what? The fortune slip Yui picked…]

“Hmm… Suhyun is back in streamer mode now.”

She muttered quietly to herself as she leaned back in her chair.

Honestly, it was to be expected.

Suhyun is a professional streamer.

Even though her weeks-long trip had ended,

She naturally returned to her place.

And without a hitch, she regained her rhythm.

But, the problem was elsewhere.

Bihangwoon moved her mouse to open another window.

Then, she typed a familiar word into the search bar.

[Bus]

A moment later, the screen was flooded.

Articles.

Articles.

And more articles.

‘Drama “Busker” Achieves Phenomenal Ratings… Hits 11%’

‘Who Is the Girl in the Viral Scene? A Stunning Debut by an Unknown Actress…’

‘Jung Hanwoo as Choi Han in a Relationship with His On-Screen First Love? “We Needed the Perfect Visual”‘

What the hell is that last article?

Bihangwoon frowned slightly and slowly closed her eyes.

So that’s how it is.

This person is finally starting to stand out.

“…Haah.”

Bihangwoon put her glass down.

The drama Busker, which became a massive hit while Suhyun was in Japan.

It was lucky that it didn’t overlap with any other major networks…

But the drama itself, with its calm and youthful charm, had drawn people in.

This was definitely not something ordinary.

Suhyun was already famous as the VTuber Shirahana Yuki.

But now, she was also starting to be recognized as “Actress Kang Suhyun.”

“Juggling illustration work too… That’s a crazy three-job workload.”

Depending on what she chooses…

She could remain just a VTuber, or fully transition into acting.

Bihangwoon was curious about Suhyun’s choice.

Just how far would this monster of a person climb?

Bihangwoon turned back to the monitor.

Suhyun was still streaming on the screen.

[So now that I’ve had a break, I’m going to go full force with streaming. I’ll do some chatting too…]

“…The fire just started burning. You could take things a bit slower with your VTuber activities…”

Bihangwoon felt a bit frustrated.

Right now, all public attention was on Busker, the top-rated drama of the first half of the year.

If Suhyun just acted in one more project while she’s still known as the ‘Busker First Love Girl,’ she could maintain her fame.

“And then… there’s ‘this’ too.”

And Bihangwoon had an even bigger piece of firewood to throw in.

Something so valuable that it would haunt her in her sleep if she didn’t use it.

Bihangwoon slowly set down the script she had been holding.

“I got it from Byeolha. The script.”

The script for the new drama “A Better Life,” written by the genius director Yoon Byeolha.