NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33
It’s already been about ten days since I started working with the new editor.
I haven’t opened a YouTube channel yet, but I’ve started working on filling the content that will go up.
– “Should we skip this part and move straight to the counseling room scene?”
“Yeah, that seems better. And the background music around 7 minutes and 10 seconds feels a bit loud, can we either change it to something more calm or lower the volume?”
– “Understood. I’ll contact you right away once I finish the modifications, boss.”
“Then, I’m counting on you.”
Once again, I wrapped up the confirmation while chatting on Discord.
Now that the editor is about to leave the Discord room, I thought I’d take a break before diving back into work, and I slumped back in my chair.
But for some reason, the editor, who usually rushes out as soon as we finish, was still lingering in the Discord room.
“Uh… Editor, do you have any other questions about the video?”
I cautiously opened my mouth, sensing a hesitant buzz coming from the other side.
– “Oh, no. It’s not about work. I wanted to ask something else….”
“……?”
To my surprise, the editor responded unexpectedly.
If it’s not about work, does that mean they want to ask a personal question?
That’s a bit unexpected. I thought they’d prefer not to talk about personal matters since they usually only contact me for work-related stuff.
“Sure, go ahead.”
Even though we started as a work relationship, I thought sharing this kind of casual conversation would help us build some camaraderie and make future collaborations easier.
The editor seemed to seize the moment to speak up.
– “What kind of relationship do you have with Ms. Seo-ha?”
“Seo-ha? Like, my older sister?”
That’s another string of unexpected questions.
When a guy asks something like this, I can’t help but think there’s only one intention behind it, so I playfully replied.
“Uh, do you perhaps have feelings for Ms. Seo-ha?”
– “What? That’s a preposterous thing to say!”
“…Sorry, I guess that wasn’t it.”
Feeling the chill from their blunt response, I immediately apologized.
If someone genuinely had feelings for someone, they would show some sign of embarrassment or hesitation at times like this, but there was not a trace of that in the editor’s voice.
As if saying, “Why would you even ask something that ridiculous?” I felt a bit embarrassed to be the one who posed that question.
Ah, was that completely off? Then why did they bring it up in the first place?
– “I’m just curious about your relationship with Seo-ha, like how you got to know each other….”
“We met at the Twip Party. After that, we bumped into each other a few times by chance.”
Since this had been mentioned on stream, I figured there was no need to hide it, and I opened up honestly. The editor then asked again.
– “By chance, you say…?”
“Just the other day, we ran into each other at the AGP, and I also saw her unexpectedly during a meeting at Aiver. Oh, and there was also that time when I was at a BBQ place with my friends, and she happened to be working part-time there.”
I’ve never used the word “by chance” so many times in a single answer, but that’s just how to describe it.
– “…Part-time, you say?”
After I vaguely explained how I became friends with Seo-ha, the response from the other side sounded mixed with clear astonishment.
Or rather, it might’ve been closer to disbelief. At least, that’s how it felt to me.
“Yeah, the new owner there is a friend of hers, so she came to help out for a bit.”
– “That’s quite… oh, never mind. That’s an astonishing coincidence.”
“Right? I found it a bit strange too.”
Honestly, there was a time when I joked about whether Seo-ha was intentionally waiting for a chance to run into me, but I quickly shook my head.
Why would such a pretty person be following a small-time loser streamer like me? With that level of fantasy, I’d probably get flamed if I wrote it into a story.
– “They say when coincidences keep piling up, it becomes fate. Don’t you think there’s a chance you could end up getting closer to Ms. Seo-ha?”
Taking a sip of water in front of me, I couldn’t help but laugh at the editor’s casual inquiry.
Me and Seo-ha? Please, keep it real. We’re on different levels.
Honestly, if I made a rash confession to Seo-ha, that would probably just cause her to lose a fan right then and there.
People should know their place and keep boundaries if they want to maintain relationships for a long time.
“Hey, I might be a disaster from her perspective.”
– “I don’t think that’d be the case….”
“Yeah?”
– “Oh, never mind. I didn’t say anything.”
I felt like the editor had slipped into a casual tone there, but since they’d always been so formal, I chalked it up to me mishearing and nodded along.
“Well, I still think it’s a bit of a special relationship. It’s closer than just streamer and fan, but it’s still lacking to be called friends, you know?”
– “I see… I understand.”
I thought my vague expression was a bit airy, yet surprisingly, the editor seemed to accept it and wrapped up the discussion.
“So, is that it for the conversation?”
– “Yes, thank you for making the time, boss.”
“Not at all, let’s have these little chats more often. I’d like to hear about your love life too, editor.”
– “You probably won’t find it interesting. I turned my back completely on that after my girlfriend cheated on me three years ago.”
Ah, oh…. I didn’t know that…
I unintentionally touched a sore spot, and as I offered a late apology, the editor calmly replied, “I’m fine now,” and left the Discord room after saying goodbye.
If we have a meeting together next time, I should treat him to some pork belly and soju as a means of consolation and apology.
But I still can’t shake off the curiosity—if it wasn’t for that reason, why were they asking about my relationship with Seo-ha? Were they genuinely just curious as an acquaintance?
Ultimately, I couldn’t resolve my mystery, and at 6 PM, like any regular day, I had to turn on the broadcast.
*
【Lee Sung-min】
The name stored mechanically in three letters appeared on my phone.
Since soon, Mr. Cosmo—or Uju—would start streaming, I felt a bit uncomfortable, as if an intruder had come in, but since I’d been the one to say to notify me if there were any updates, I had no right to complain.
“Hello?”
– “Ah! It’s the Director. I’m sorry for contacting you at this late hour.”
“It’s only 6 PM, so there’s no need to apologize. By the way, what’s the matter?”
The voice from the other side sounded tense, and I responded in the same nonchalant way I would when addressing employees or executives at the office.
Perhaps my energy levels were over the top when I was with Uju. I’ve never been the fun type after all.
– “Actually, I remembered you mentioned to call on the tenth day… so I’m just calling to report.”
“…Ah, that’s right. It’s already been ten days.”
With work getting busier lately, my sense of time had dulled. It’s already been ten days since Sung-min began working as Uju’s editor.
I finally looked at the calendar, realizing it just now, and silently apologized to Sung-min. It was practically my request to call today, yet here I was blaming an innocent male colleague. Quite the slip-up.
“So how’s everything going? What about Uju’s reactions?”
– “It seems they are mostly satisfied with the videos I’ve edited. Communication has been smooth with no major issues, and the workload is manageable.”
While listening to Sung-min’s report about his work, an image of Uju giving detailed editing instructions popped into my head, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Now that I think about it, Uju was worried about how to manage people when he was looking for an editor. Just a little while ago, he even came to me asking, “I’ve been requesting a lot of confirmations from the editor, but do you think they’d be offended?” Such cute consultations.
He might be holding back wanting to give even more assignments, worried he’d be burdening them with too much work. It’s those little clumsy things in him that are charming.
“Well, Uju probably doesn’t have a personality that would severely exploit others. He’s quite kind-hearted, and there’s a subtle softness to him…”
– “That’s true.”
“Plus, in the past, he personally helped find lost children’s parents… Nowadays, it’s a rare thing to come across.”
– “Certainly, his impression seemed very gentle.”
“That’s what I mean! Those soft eyes just trigger this protective instinct…”
Ah.
I spilled out my admiration for Uju before I could stop myself and promptly closed my mouth.
Hmm, maybe it’s better not to let Sung-min, who shouldn’t know I have feelings for Uju, hear such things.
– “Oh, speaking of which, the boss mentioned something about you just today…”
“Really!?”
Trying to stick to the silence-is-golden mantra while I scrambled to reorganize my words, I impulsively sprang up from my chair at the unexpected news.
Uju spoke about me in my absence? I’m so curious!
– “Yes… I assure you, it’s true.”
“What did they say?”
Like a child pleading with a parent about a storybook’s ending, I urged Sung-min to spill the details.
– “It’s a lengthy explanation, but to summarize, it’s a relationship that’s much closer than just streamer and fan, but it feels a bit more special than that for ordinary friends…”
“……!”
As soon as I heard the clandestine conversation exchanged between two men filter into my ears, it felt like my heart stopped ticking.
That was something akin to an award for me, just as valuable and precious as any trophy.
“Is that really true?”
– “Yes, that’s what I heard directly from the boss.”
“Oh my….”
What to do! I’m so happy!
Was I someone who would react this way to another person’s comment? I don’t think I was.
But who cares! I’m just happy right now!
“Eeeee!!”
– “D-Director?”
Thud.
I completely forgot that the person on the other side was still on the line and dove straight onto my bed, hugging a huge pillow and rolling around with it.
I have no idea how to express this joy.
I’m so grateful to Sung-min for courageously asking that difficult question I couldn’t bring myself to.
Oh wait! This isn’t the time! You should properly reward someone who brings good news according to ancient proverbs!
“Sung-min.”
– “Yes, Director.”
“Tell Kim to double the bonus we promised this year. You’ve done a great job.”
– “Huh…! Thank you! I’ll repay this in blood!”
I could hear him gasp and what sounded like clothes rustling, as if he was bending his back on the other side of the phone.
To be honest, I had my doubts about him at first. But seeing him autonomously bring such remarkable results without me even having to say a word feels like I’ve truly hired someone worthwhile.
I should definitely give an extra award to Kim for bringing in such talent.
“Let’s look forward to more good news in the future. I have some urgent matters to attend to…”
– “Yes! Have a peaceful night, Director!”
Click.
The moment I hung up after saying my goodbyes, I quickly tapped the notification for Uju’s live stream that had appeared in the shape of a bell.
– “Everyone, come on in!”
Today, Uju’s voice sounded unusually sweet, and I pressed my headset tightly to avoid letting my feelings spill out.
Ah, I’m so happy.