Chapter 17: Dressed for the Stream

I collapsed into sleep after spending half the day playing yesterday. My body’s stamina seems to be weaker than I thought; I fell asleep at 10 PM yesterday and didn’t wake up until 10 AM today.

When I go to sleep completely exhausted, I lose track of time, so when I finally woke up, I was bewildered by the sunlight welcoming me.

But I couldn’t forget my promise with Yoo Ji-eun.

Tomorrow, I’ll be experiencing hell again.

“Phew…”

As soon as I remembered, I let out a sigh.

I really don’t understand Yoo Ji-eun’s psychology.

She said she was hurt deeply, yet why does she suddenly want to meet with me, the perpetrator?

Is she trying to blackmail me?

To get back at me?

I couldn’t help but feel a bit gloomy as my mind wandered to all the bad possibilities.

“Ugh.”

With a sigh, I pushed myself up.

For now, I should just set that aside and do what I can.

I had cereal for breakfast and lunch, ringing the bell, and when I started to feel more awake, I put on my bra and turned on the stream.

‘The high school graduate, part-time jobless, introverted girl, is now streaming!’

A high school graduate and jobless girl, hi!

I just had a good time with my classmate.

At the end of the stream, I had already warned that I might not be able to stream because I was going out with that female classmate. Maybe that’s why the chat was pretty calm.

“Yes. It was really fun.”

I said with a bashful smile.

I feel like I’ve been smiling more recently.

DysonRobot donated 1,000 won.

But where does the money come from to go out and play? Didn’t you say you’re broke?

Now that I think about it, it’s true.

Isn’t this a bit of a joke?

A lying pretty girl, haha!

“My friend covered everything for me. She even bought my clothes. Thank you for the 1,000 won.”

?

Why did she buy you clothes?

Is she a sugar mommy?

Why would a same-sex friend cover for you?

Does she have feelings for you?

Oh my, haha!

“Ah… It’s not like that. Don’t tease my friend.”

I was always okay with being teased, but Song Chae-hyun is just a regular person.

And it doesn’t really make sense for Song Chae-hyun to have feelings for me.

We’re both girls.

Suddenly, I remembered the fluttering feeling from that time, and my face grew a bit warm.

Well, from Song Chae-hyun’s perspective, you could argue that it could be seen as having feelings.

Maternal love…

Ah.

In the midst of chatting, I almost forgot my purpose.

My current bank balance is 32,000 won.

The rent due date is the 4th…

… I have no money.

I hadn’t realized it until now since it had been set up for automatic transfer, but the rent… really is an astronomical amount.

“Um… everyone.”

Huh? Why am I hesitating to say this so openly as I stared at the same chat repeating?

“Please… give me money.”

Haha!

Indeed, the money-collecting pretty girl!

But why am I saying it so shyly?

I used to just say it outright, haha!

It’s just that back then, I was still dazed right after being sued.

Right now, it feels a bit embarrassing to say it so openly.

Spaghetti123 donated 1,000 won.

You have to do pretty things to get it! (2nd time)

“Pretty things…”

I wonder.

For something to come, something has to go.

But now that I’ve turned on the camera, what should I do?

Should I take off my mask?

That feels a bit… scary.

What if someone recognizes me and comes to my house?

With gray hair and gray eyes, there aren’t many people like that in the country, so even if my hair color and eye color get revealed, that concern might be pointless.

Still, there’s a psychological resistance.

“Hmm…”

After thinking for a moment, a good idea suddenly popped into my head, and I said,

“Do you want to see the clothes my classmate bought me?”

Oh.

Ooooh.

O O.

Wow.

O O O.

As expected, a good reaction.

I felt like I was something amazing.

I enjoyed that reaction… while I took out the white shirt and black skirt I wore yesterday, hanging in the closet off-screen.

“Here you go.”

So pretty!

Haha, that’s a girl’s outfit.

It’s pretty.

My classmate really knows how to pick outfits! Haha!

So pretty!

I’ll remember those two nicknames.

I held the shirt and skirt up to my upper and lower body, respectively.

Oh.

Wait, why is the skirt so short? It’s like a couple of inches above my knees!

These days, everyone dresses like that.

Looking at it, it’s not that the skirt itself is short; it’s that my legs are just really long.

“What? These days, everyone dresses like this.”

…

For some reason, Song Chae-hyun’s voice overlapped, making me feel like I had to come up with an excuse.

“Then… should I try it on?”

Oh.

Wow.

Are we finally going to see something other than pajamas?

Show us, show us, show us, show us, show us, show us!

As I watched their enthusiastic reactions, I crossed my arms,

making a subtle expression.

They can’t see my expression since I’m wearing a mask, but…

“Hmph…”

?

What is that?

You look a bit smug.

That’s kind of annoying! Haha!

“It’s fine to change, but…”

I said, making a circle with my thumb and index finger.

“I might need a little effort…”

My face grew slightly red.

Have I always been this brazen?

No, it’s my barren life that has made me like this.

If you’re going to criticize, blame society, not me.

Spaghetti123 donated 10,000 won.

Do pretty things (wear it)! Haha!

…

A full ten thousand won!

But the way they keep saying “pretty things” makes me feel like a child.

Still, since they gave me money, I’ll let it slide for now.

“Thank you for the ten thousand won!”

I uncrossed my arms and bowed my head deeply.

I need to be careful, so I made sure to keep my hand on my pajama top.

I could feel myself gradually getting used to this body.

I held the clothes and entered the bathroom to change.

Just in case, I also turned off the camera. I closed the bathroom door… for mental stability.

I took off my pajama pants, stood in the middle of the skirt, then pulled it up and buttoned it.

After taking off the pajama top, I put on the shirt and started buttoning it one by one.

Then, as I was about to button the last button at the middle of my collarbone,

I hesitated for a moment.

I’m sure many people will have certain thoughts if I come out wearing something that exposes these legs.

The broadcast chat would probably be full of sexual harassment comments again.

Is it okay?

I don’t like sexual harassment.

But the answer was already decided.

There was just a moment of hesitation.

In reality, as much as I don’t want to admit it,

besides money, there’s one more thing I want.

Even though sexual harassment is scary.

…

I want to receive compliments.

The new shirt and skirt fit me well, and I wanted to hear that I looked cute and pretty.

That desire eventually led me to fasten the last button of my shirt.

I fiddled with my hair for a while and adjusted my outfit, then swallowed nervously and fiddled with my phone, which was my camera.

I should probably buy a new camera soon.

Money…

Just before turning it on, I stepped outside briefly, then went back, took a deep breath, and entered the screen.

“… So, how do I look?”

I tried to react as casually as possible, but it was more difficult than I thought.

I was a little anxious, worried that my posture might look unnatural.

I felt jittery.

The same tension I felt when I first showed myself to Song Chae-hyun and Yoo Ji-eun.

Slowly, I lifted my head and glanced at the chat window.

Wow

Wow

Wow

Kya kya kya kya kya kya kya kya kya

Amazing!

What is this ratio?

Seriously, what about the length of my legs?

Wearing something other than pajamas is insane.

“… Hehe…”

I started to feel good.

Ah, really.

It’s quite embarrassing for my pride.

I felt this before with Song Chae-hyun; when I hear that I’m pretty or cute, I really can’t help but smile.

A giggle escaped me.

Do you like this? So cute.

So freaking cute.

I want to cuddle your cheeks.

“Well, if you all treat me well and give me compliments often, I might wear this again.”

I tried to act a bit coy.

Feeling a bit more confident, I struck cute poses.

I glanced at the chat window every time I did.

In the meantime, I started to see more question marks appearing in the chat.

Curious, I leaned in closer to check the chat.

? But who is the manager in the viewer list?

Is there a broadcast manager? What’s that?

It just appeared.

No way.

As I scrolled up in the chat, I saw:

‘Yoo Ji-eun has entered the chat.’

“Eek…”

She finally came.

No way;

Oh my gosh…

Who is this? Who is this? Who is this? Who is this?

As I fell silent upon seeing this, the viewers’ thoughts began to spiral into a pit of desire.

I quickly collected my thoughts and spoke up.

“Um… That person is… a girl, and… as for our relationship…”

But for some reason, my mouth wouldn’t open properly.

I can’t just say we were both accused of a scam, right?

Lies ᄂᄂ

But her nickname is Yoo Ji-eun, isn’t it?

What if that’s a disguise? If we have a common mindset? ᄃᄃᄃ

No way? ᄏᄏ

Oh my gosh… oh my gosh…

The chat began to become increasingly chaotic and uncontrollable.

“Um…”

Since I had been in a similar situation before, I thought I could handle it quickly if something similar happened again, but now I didn’t know what to say.

My head spun with the rapidly scrolling chat.

While I was dizzy from the situation,

my phone rang.

So it seemed that the camera on my phone, which was acting as my webcam, turned off.

What? The cam is off?

A ghost ᄃᄃ

“Oh. I’m so sorry… I’ll hang up.”

I said that while picking up the phone next to my desk.

‘Yoo Ji-eun’

Her name was displayed on the screen.

What is this?

Why is she calling all of a sudden?

If she has something to say, can’t she just use the chat?

This must be a call for me to pick up.

But if I do, it’ll raise more suspicion.

However, I had no choice again.

What should I do? I have to answer.

“Everyone, I’m sorry. I think I need to take this call.”

Ignoring chat comments like “What kind of romance is this on the stream? Seems like a very innocent girl, her boyfriend is a bit aggressive,” and feeling dizzy,

I answered the phone.

“… Hello?”

[Ah, yes. Hello?]

“Yes, Ji-eun… I’m live streaming right now…”

I expressed a hint of dissatisfaction.

[Oh, I know. I’m in the stream too.]

She said with a small laugh.

Then why did you call me…?

As I grumbled internally, I heard her voice again.

[Moon Hyun.]

I was taken aback when I suddenly heard my name.

But Yoo Ji-eun’s voice continued without regard for my surprise.

[Could you switch to a one-handed phone call for a moment?]

“Um, yes…? Yes?”

[And please bring it close to the microphone.]

“Why, why, um?”

[Yes?]

“I got it…”

Not knowing her intentions, I absentmindedly brought my phone to the headset’s microphone.

??

What’s going on?

Questions like that started to pop up in the chat.

Her voice resonated in the room and through the microphone.

[Oh, oh. Can you hear me?]

?

Oh

Wow

What’s with that voice?

[I’m the manager. Yoo Ji-eun Ji-eun Ji-eun Yu.]

She said while smiling briefly.

[It seems like there’s been a misunderstanding, so I called to let you hear my voice. I hope we can work well together.]

[I won’t control too much, but please be careful as I will ban any crossing the line in chat~]

She said that and abruptly hung up.

Just like that.

If she speaks like that, the confused viewers will definitely freak out.

Thinking about how I would have acted in her place…

…

I already felt mentally hazy.

Still, I thought it was 500 times better than being embroiled in male gossip.

So, feeling a slight gratitude for putting out the fire she started, I looked at the chat with a tense expression.

Yeah… sister…

ᄅᄋ I feel like my ears are melting.

Why is she so gentle?

But it’s kind of scary.

If I’m not careful, I might get buried;

Just like that, public opinion shifted in an instant.

Guys…

It’s stupidly easy…

I sighed.

The broadcast proceeded smoothly afterward.

But.

“Hey, where did my sister go?”

“Please type in the chat!”

“Your voice is so nice!”

“Sister… ᅲᅲᅲ”

The chat kept flooding with such comments throughout my broadcast.

This is my stream. It bothers me that they’re not paying attention to me and reacting so excessively.

“If you mention her too much, I’ll ban you.”

I said that, slightly pouting while ringing the bell.

***

I stared blankly at the food in front of me.

The food placed in front of me looked incredibly expensive, almost like a piece of art.

As I stared blankly at the dish, Yoo Ji-eun, smiling, approached me and whispered softly in my ear.

“It looks delicious, right?”