Chapter 40: Twika TV CEO’s Ambition

I arrived late at the Twika TV headquarters due to a drama shoot.

While getting my makeup done in the dressing room, I read through the script.

Game promotion broadcasts always follow the same pattern.

Just a quick “I’m a fan, it’s fun,” and you’re done.

Having done this many times, I quickly memorized the script.

Should I take a short break?

Closing my eyes, I waited for the makeup session to finish.

After leaving the dressing room, I stood behind the stage.

Where’s Yuseong?

The broadcast is about to start.

According to the notice, he’s been under the weather lately.

Is he still not feeling better?

I wonder if he’s taking care of himself properly, living alone like that.

“Hello, Seolhyun.”

Yuseong’s voice came from behind.

He made it just in time.

I turned my head, ready to greet him.

“Oh, hi.”

Goodness! He’s wearing makeup?

His already handsome face looked even brighter.

My heart felt like it stopped. I couldn’t look directly at him.

“Let’s make this broadcast fun today.”

Yuseong came closer and spoke again.

Get it together.

This is a broadcast; act professional.

Am I going to be like this in front of the camera, too?

What am I doing, acting like a shy child? Stop showing it.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

I managed to maintain my usual tone with great effort, calming my racing heart as I continued the conversation.

“We’re almost at the end now. Just a little more effort!”

It had been about an hour since the game started.

My fingers were aching.

I could’ve just faked it, but why was I pushing myself so hard?

It’s only because it’s Yuseong.

If it were anyone else, I’d have glared at them and snapped.

“Your fingers must be really sore.”

Yuseong suddenly grabbed my hand.

What? Is he always this forward?

I worked hard to calm my pounding heart and kept a neutral expression.

What kind of strength does this man have?

His hand massage felt refreshing.

It was leagues better than the clumsy massages my younger sibling gave me.

As the tension eased, my shoulders relaxed.

“No, I’m fine.”

Suddenly, I felt warm breath on my hand.

Yuseong was blowing on it.

Shocked, I quickly pulled my hand away.

Why am I so embarrassed?

Normally, the guy should be the one blushing, right?

My face felt hot.

Was it red?

I didn’t want Yuseong to notice, so I turned my head abruptly.

“Seolhyun, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m really sorry.”

Yuseong apologized in a subdued voice.

That’s just unfair.

With a face like a drenched puppy, he knew I couldn’t stay upset.

“No, it’s fine. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

Yuseong’s expression brightened.

Happy now? Are you satisfied that I cheered you up? Why am I always so weak around this man?

I can’t figure it out.

“Still… it was fun. When we took down that skeleton boss, I was so thrilled.”

As expected, the same scenario played out.

No matter how determined I was, his awkward expression would always break me down.

Here I was, forcing a smile to lighten the mood.

It was pitiful, even to myself.

Now I knew for sure—I couldn’t win against this man.

“I’ll grill the meat.”

“No way, I’ll do it. Just relax.”

We arrived at the barbecue restaurant and entered a private room.

After laying down the seat cushions, we sat.

Juhee excused herself to greet the broadcast team members, leaving only Seolhyun and me in this awkward setting.

When I grabbed the tongs to grill the meat, they were snatched away immediately.

Honestly, a world where gender roles are reversed isn’t so bad. Who would’ve thought I’d get to eat meat grilled by an actress?

“So, are you completely done with BigStars TV now?”

“No, I’m just weighing my options among several companies. I haven’t ruled them out entirely.”

Seolhyun asked about my relationship with BigStars TV.

Moonhwa was working on recruiting someone to help me, but I couldn’t share everything.

After all, Seolhyun was affiliated with BigStars Entertainment.

“That’s a smart move. Signing a contract with an agency is really important. If you approach it thinking, ‘It’s a major company, so the terms must be good,’ you’ll regret it.”

“Thank you.”

Seolhyun’s words surprised me.

I expected her to persuade me to sign with BigStars TV, but instead, she offered genuine advice.

Is she not on good terms with the company?

That works out for me. I can freely ask her about BigStars TV now.

“Um… what are the twin CEOs like?”

“They’re money-hungry misers. Just look at me, here playing games during a drama shoot.”

“So, do you regret signing with BigStars Entertainment?”

“No.”

Seolhyun shook her head, opened a bottle of soju, and poured herself a drink.

She downed it in one go without batting an eye, then stared straight at me.

“Jang Misun, one of the CEOs, is incredibly talented.

She constantly provides work opportunities.

Do you think I’ve held the title of ‘Ad Queen’ for four consecutive years for no reason?

BigStars Entertainment is a great company.”

“I see.”

Well, it is the agency of the country’s top actor.

Of course, they must be highly competent.

I could understand Seolhyun’s perspective.

That is, assuming a proper contract is made.

Even if you take on a lot of work, it’s meaningless if fair compensation doesn’t follow.

If I end up signing with Big Stars TV, I must bring a professional along.

“The meat is done. Shall we start with a drink?”

“Sure.”

We clinked our glasses and toasted.

Then I tossed back a shot of soju.

Ugh, my face scrunched up automatically.

Why do people rave about this stuff? All I taste is bitterness.

On the other hand, Seolhyun remained expressionless.

She drank as if it were water.

For someone with such a petite frame, her alcohol tolerance seemed remarkably high.

Is it because she’s been in the workforce for so long?

Did her capacity grow from frequent drinking occasions?

“Seolhyun, you seem to handle alcohol really well. Can I ask what your limit is?”

“Hmm, about ten bottles? Honestly, I’ve never lost to anyone in a drinking contest.”

Seolhyun answered with a faint chuckle.

What’s with that confidence?

The pride was evident on her face as she spoke about her drinking capacity.

I’m not exactly weak with alcohol, but I knew I needed to stay sharp.

It’s important to decline appropriately; I can’t just keep drinking everything offered.

Otherwise, I’d end up in a bad place.

“Ah… I feel dizzy.”

Oh, come on—ten bottles, really?

In reality, Seolhyun was completely drunk after just five shots of soju.

What do you mean you’ve never lost to anyone?

Who on earth have you been drinking with?

Out of nowhere, she leaned over, her voice nasal as she mumbled incoherently.

“Hehe, I feel great.”

She suddenly started giggling and clung to my arm, pressing her body against me.

The soft, squishy sensation was unmistakable.

For goodness’ sake, this is going to make things awkward.

Juhee had just returned after greeting the staff.

Why did this have to happen now? I can’t let her see this.

“Seolhyun, please pull yourself together…”

I tried to pull her off, but my gaze involuntarily dropped.

Her dress had ridden up, exposing white underwear and toned thighs.

Seriously? Isn’t this too much?

It’s freezing out—why wear such thin underwear?

It’s practically see-through.

You make good money; why not dress warmly?

“Ah, your dress seems to have ridden up. Let me help you with that.”

“No, I can adjust it myself.”

“How can I let you handle that in front of a man? I’ll come over to help.”

“Really, it’s fine. I already fixed it.”

There’s no way I could let Juhee approach us.

Acting quickly, I wrapped one arm around Seolhyun’s shoulders, propped her upper body up slightly, and used my free hand to pull her dress back down.

Thank goodness I managed to handle it quickly. That could’ve been a disaster.

“Things seem to have calmed down now.”

“Indeed. I didn’t think Seolhyun was such a lightweight.”

Having exhausted herself clinging to me, Seolhyun collapsed onto the table, her head resting there as she fell into a deep sleep.

The sound of her steady breathing confirmed she was out cold.

“Do you think she might feel embarrassed about this later? If so, I’ll apologize on her behalf.”

“Oh, no. I’m not the type to take offense over something like this. People act differently when drunk.”

Embarrassed?

Not at all—I didn’t mind the view, if anything.

The only problem was Juhee being present, which made it an awkward situation.

“Representative.”

“Yes, Yuseong?”

Finally, I could have a proper conversation with Juhee.

The moment I’d been waiting for had come.

“When will my partner streamer promotion go through?”

“The process is already underway. By tomorrow morning, the approval should be finalized.”

“Ah, thank you. There’s also something I’d like to request…”

“Go ahead.”

Twika TV is the top streaming platform in the country.

However, it has one drawback—simultaneous broadcasting is not allowed.

When streaming on Twika TV, you can’t use another platform at the same time.

I wonder if there’s any way to lift this restriction.

Hopefully, she won’t take offense at the suggestion.

“I’ve been planning some content. I’d like to stream simultaneously on Twika TV and YouTube Live. Would that be possible?”

“Of course not. It’s a key operational policy of the company. No exceptions are made, even for you, Yuseong.”

As expected, it’s a no.

That’s a bit disappointing.

I had plans to maximize revenue, but they’re ruined before even starting.

Well, there’s no choice.

Between Twika TV and YouTube Live, if I had to pick one, it’d obviously be the former.

Is there even a comparison? The spending power of Twika TV’s audience is on another level.

I’ll just have to follow their rules.

“Got it. I just thought I’d ask. Sorry if I caused any offense.”

“No, not at all. It’s a common question from streamers. I’m not upset. But…”

Juhee placed a hand on my shoulder and looked at me with a deeply earnest gaze.

“I’m a little disappointed. I had plans to use you, Yuseong, to explosively grow Twika TV’s scale.”

“Pardon?”

“Follow me. I’ll turn Twika TV into the country’s leading broadcaster. When that happens, the world will be yours, Shin Yuseong. Trust me.”

Wow.

So this is the vision Juhee had in mind.

I was taken aback but didn’t find it far-fetched.

After all, my plans align in some ways too.

This collaboration might be exciting.

If the two of us put our heads together, we could achieve something extraordinary in no time.