episode_0096

Because people’s gazes were too sharp, I took Jin Saeyuk and headed out of the Arts Center to a cafe a little further away.

“— Th-that’s right. I… I hold Ms. Min Chaewon in high esteem as a noble benefactor…!”

There was no need for me to rack my brain to find out the connection between Min Chaewon and Jin Saeyuk.

She explained it well with stumbling words.

While Jin Saeyuk smoothly laid out the story of the past, I personally looked up who her mama and papa were. They were not ordinary names. They were the top of the illustration industry and the god of live 2D rigging.

No wonder she was popular. Not only because of her good character, but also because she scored around 60 points in appearance.

Since editing the first video of Aclert three years ago, posting a swimsuit video together last year, and even supporting a Vtuber’s torso.

It was a bit excessive for the help I received in the early days of NewTube, but there was a reason for it all.

‘I knew it.’

The past me knew what had happened between Yoon Kwancheol and Jin Saeyuk.

Jin Saeyuk was terrified not of Yoon Kwancheol’s threats, but of the non-threatening threats, and the past me who detected her abnormal behavior directly investigated and went around.

“W-why. Why. Why, why. Why like that, look…?”

Now I finally understood why Yoon Jiyu had been so obsessed with me.

Jin Saeyuk’s actions were just like mine when I played Hitori. If my side was a fake Hitori, hers was the real Hitori.

Always looking around at every action and word, and even when bored, surveying the surroundings like a meerkat to detect danger.

Always hunched over with the upper body leaning forward, and hands gathered in front of the chest as if deliberately so.

She gives off a strong feeling of a squirrel or a golden hamster. No wonder Yoon Jiyu couldn’t resist hugging me.

Now I can understand why she showed such overprotective behavior in front of Yoon Kwancheol.

“Saeyuk, Saeyuk?”

But how did she survive under Yoon Kwancheol with such a fragile personality?

I don’t know if Yoon Jiyu took good care of her, or if she looked weak but said everything she wanted. She’s even a year older than me, but looks the same age because of her youthful appearance.

How did someone with such a personality dye their hair pink? It must have taken more than an hour to bleach and dye it. Do hairdressers have a special skill to endure the talk of a meek person?

No, why did a timid person dye their hair in the first place? I’m dying to know.

— Siwoo: I’ll be nearby, so call me when the conversation is over.

— Siwoo: I avoided the place because it seemed like you wanted to talk about something important, but it’s still our first official date.

— Siwoo: I want to take you home.

Since Siwoo is waiting nearby, it’s difficult to have a long conversation. So let’s quickly ask what we want to know.

Jin Saeyuk is someone I cherish from the past, so I don’t want to leave a bad impression.

“When did you dye your hair?”

“Oh, um. R-recently. I… I wanted to make it the same as my character… and… it just happened… I saw it…”

“I see.”

Well, Jin Saeyuk’s character had pink hair.

Maybe she did a content where she cooks with her face covered, which is a hit among YouTubers these days.

It’s a controversial content, but it was possible because of the time we collaborated and she dressed up in a swimsuit.

“T-there’s, you know. Chaewon.”

“You’re my younger sibling. Feel free to call me by my name. It’s okay.”

“But, still! No! Absolutely not. Because you’re Eunin, Eunin!”

When dealing with timid individuals, staying silent until you express consideration for them can have the opposite effect.

Although they may not show it outwardly, numerous scenarios are running wild in their minds. Giving them too much time may lead to them straying too far and providing reactions and interpretations that are completely different from your intentions.

Therefore, it’s important to quickly and effectively convey your sincerity. If you sense that the other person is contemplating something, you should anticipate what they might be thinking and offer options for questions from your side.

“Do you not like being called ‘unni’ by me?”

“…Oh. Suddenly? Out of the blue? Were we that close?”

I’m not someone who expects anything in return from just anyone. Kind and angelic as she may seem, those who don’t appreciate what is given to them are out of the question.

“I thought we were close….”

“Uh, no. That’s a lie!”

“It’s true. If we weren’t close, I wouldn’t have given you various gifts without expecting anything in return, even though they amount to nearly ten million won.”

“Is that so? Does it really work that way….”

Eyes that can’t seem to focus during the conversation. She raised her head to talk to me, but it seemed more like a skill born out of her shyness rather than a genuine effort.

“Anyway, feel free to call me ‘unni.’”

Blushing at the word ‘unni,’ she continued fidgeting with the fingers intertwined in front of her chest.

“And, please don’t bow and act so formal like earlier. You don’t have to go that far; your gratitude towards me is already well conveyed.”

“No. No, I should be more grateful. I’ve been so busy lately and couldn’t even contact you…! I’ve been so neglectful, right? Chae Won, you must be disappointed too?”

Well, even if in the past I gave her a considerable amount close to ten million won without expecting anything in return. People can get busy and might not be able to keep in touch.

It’s not like I abruptly cut off contact just because I was busy, so why is she feeling so guilty?

“Oh, no. You reached out to me first today… There’s no reason for me to be disappointed….”

“Yes, I should have contacted you earlier, right?!”

I failed to convey my sincerity.

Did I make a wrong expression just now?

So, sincerely.

“Oh, it’s okay. If you’re busy, you might not be able to contact me! You said you’re doing a lot of work right now, with broadcasts and editing….”

Honestly, I want to tell Jinsaeyuk to reduce her workload.

The dark circles under her eyes were more severe than Jung Siwoo in his prime, and compared to the recently recovered Jung Siwoo, who had undergone therapy with Min Chaewon, it was a terrible level.

“You look completely exhausted, unni. You need some time to rest.”

“That’s true, but….”

She works so hard for a definite reason. I don’t know that reason.

When Jinsaeyuk reached out to me after being abandoned by Yoon Gwancheol, I only confirmed that fact and offered a helping hand without knowing the real reason.

Perhaps she asked, ‘Were we close?’ because I never talked about that reason?

Extroverted individuals who easily make friends with just a short conversation might say, “We’re friends!” without hesitation, but the world of introverted individuals is entirely different.

Even though Jinsaeyuk and I have known each other for quite a while, surprisingly, we’ve had very few deep and serious conversations.

After being abandoned, Jinsaeyuk reached out to me for help, and that’s about it.

Even thinking about how long it took for me to become close with Yoon Jichang after being treated like that by Yoon Jiyu in my past life….

‘It’s difficult to ask for the truth directly….’

However, leaving her as she was, it was too clear that she would collapse from pushing herself too hard.

It’s not an excessive worry, but rather a tale of experience.

After recovering from a rib injury, Jung Siwoo reduced his sleep and immersed himself in practice like a maniac.

He gave up his daily exercise routine and mental recovery through baths, blindly focusing only on playing the piano.

Then, he collapsed properly once. When he opened his eyes, he was in the hospital. The doctor said it was a combination of malnutrition and overwork. When told to rest for a few days, I sighed, wondering if I really had to rest for that long.

“The more hastily you decide, the more your body will deteriorate.”

Life is short, and it’s true that you have to earn money when you can.

Unlike company employees with set working hours, professionals, especially those in the arts, often run without gauging their limits and end up falling off a cliff.

Many creators who value their artistic activities more than their health might be appropriate examples.

Some people don’t stop running even after achieving financial stability. In this case, if there is no one to catch them from the side, their bodies will inevitably deteriorate.

Alcohol, cigarettes, and unhealthy food are their good friends. But at the same time, they can also ruin their health and shorten their lifespan.

In order to protect the health of the person Che Won cherishes, how can I turn the situation around with my words?

“Right now… there’s too much editing to do… it’s not easy… just catching up on the live broadcasts alone is no joke… but leaving it to someone else… is not easy to do… and asking someone to take over… is not easy either…”

I got a clue from the story Jin Saebyeok brought up.

She needed a lot of money and collaboration.

Because she’s afraid of meeting people. Because communication is difficult for her. Because she’s worried that she might not convey the story correctly and it won’t be edited in the direction she wants. She had been working alone without finding a suitable editor.

Expressing a sense of pity, my past self speaks. The reason for coming to Korea was not simply to meet me.

Even this poor girl, please save her like Jung Siwoo.

Certainly. There are many ways.

I am Min Chaewon, and I have a lot of money.

“Um, I thought of a good solution. Would you like to hear it?”