Chapter 26 - Bad Guy (1)
Chapter 26 Bad Guy (1)
The day after Sung-shin filmed the legendary video for me, I woke up around lunchtime and started cleaning the house.
Ever since I got discharged, Jin-hyuk and I took turns cleaning, and today was my turn.
As soon as Jin-hyuk heard the vacuum cleaner, he rubbed his eyes and came out to the living room.
“Hyung, is someone coming over? You’re cleaning from lunchtime. You usually clean around the evening.”
“We have a guest.”
“Who is it? A guest? A girl?”
Typical guys. They always ask, “A girl?” at every opportunity.
I raised my middle finger lightly in response to Jin-hyuk’s expectant words.
“It’s a guy. What are you thinking?”
“Who is it? Did you make a new streamer friend? Besides Dong-su hyung, you don’t seem to have any.”
He wasn’t wrong.
Except for Dong-su hyung, I wasn’t particularly close with any other streamers yet.
We were just acquaintances.
“Today’s guest isn’t a streamer.”
Jin-hyuk pondered for a moment before quickly figuring it out.
“Oh, is it that high schooler, Sung-shin?”
“You watched my broadcast yesterday, didn’t you?”
“Wow, you’re really inviting him over? Isn’t he going to come with a knife or something? Why don’t you meet at a café instead? If blood gets on the floor…”
“Shut your mouth before I kill you.”
When I spoke through gritted teeth, Jin-hyuk shrugged and turned his gaze out the window.
Then, he took out a piece of bread from the fridge and went back to his room.
Phew.
Cleaning was almost done.
Ding ding ding.
Just as I was about to lie down on the sofa after putting the vacuum cleaner back, my smartphone, which I had carelessly tossed on the sofa, started ringing.
I yawned and answered the call in a languid tone.
“Hello.”
A very cautious voice came through the phone.
-Hello?
“Oh, is it Sung-shin?”
-Yes, yes, hyung. I’m at the front gate of your apartment.
“Oh, really? Wait there. I’ll come get you.”
He arrived much earlier than I expected.
I slipped on my slippers and immediately went outside.
After walking for about five minutes, I saw a boy who looked like a high school student, nervously looking around.
Big horn-rimmed glasses.
A long school uniform.
And an overall pitiful atmosphere, it was 200% likely to be Sung-shin.
I approached the student and asked,
“Are you Sung-shin?”
The boy bowed 90 degrees and handed me a small box of drinks.
“Yes, yes! I’m Sung-shin. Hyung, please take this.”
“Where did a student get the money to buy this? You could have just come comfortably.”
“My mother gave me money and insisted I apologize properly…”
Hmm.
His mother knew about the situation too?
How could I not feel sorry?
“Sung-shin, did you perhaps spit in this or something?”
“No, no! I really didn’t touch it! I’m serious. Please believe me, hyung.”
“I’m just kidding. Why are you so nervous?”
Meeting him in person, he seemed quiet, but in the game, he was a fierce warrior.
For his mother’s sake, I decided to take good care of him today.
“Did you eat, Sung-shin?”
He shook his head.
“No…”
“You’re probably hungry. Want to grab something to eat first? I haven’t had lunch either, so I’m a bit hungry. Is there anything you want to eat?”
“Not particularly…”
“What kind of guy has no preferences? Speak up about what you want to eat.”
Sung-shin flinched and nodded.
“I want to eat pasta.”
“…Pasta?”
Suddenly, the atmosphere called for pasta?
Sung-shin was more ordinary than I thought.
I didn’t expect him to surprise me like this. But since he wanted pasta, I had to get it for him.
I hadn’t had pasta even once since my discharge, but it wouldn’t be bad to indulge for once.
“I’m sorry…”
Sung-shin still seemed wary of me. I patted his shoulder and continued with a smile.
“Would it be okay if my brother joins us? He hasn’t eaten either. He’s also a streamer…”
“Streamer Jin-nim? I don’t mind…”
Hmm. He responded immediately, so he seemed to have already familiarized himself with the situation.
Seeing him change so drastically in just one day, even though he had no interest in online broadcasts before, felt somewhat odd.
I called Jin-hyuk through my smartphone and stretched.
“It’s the first time three guys are going to a pasta place together.”
“I’m sorry…”
“Why do you keep apologizing? I was just saying.”
I didn’t expect him to be this timid.
Indeed, you have to meet people in person to truly know them.
We headed to the commercial district in front of our apartment complex.
Thanks to its proximity to the subway station, it was a densely populated area with many shops.
We picked a well-reviewed pasta place and went in.
We each ordered a pasta dish and a drink, and even added a pizza, preparing to fill up nicely.
“Thank you.”
After talking to the part-timer, Jin-hyuk bowed a few times and returned to the table.
“Did you get permission?”
“I asked the owner, and he said it’s fine. He even asked us to promote the place well.”
“That’s good. But how much can our promotion really help?”
“Come on, hyung. Your stream pulls in at least 30,000 viewers now.”
“I haven’t even been streaming for a week.”
“Still, you’re a big shot.”
When streaming at a venue, it’s polite to get permission.
Personal broadcasts have become so common that few places refuse filming.
Most places, like today, just ask for good promotion.
I nodded and looked at Sung-shin, who was sitting awkwardly.
“Is it okay if we start the broadcast?”
“…Yes.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything. Let’s quickly put an end to the controversy with this broadcast.”
And I’ll get some good footage for my stream too.
This is a win-win situation.
Sung-shin could clear his image, and I could get some good content.
Plus, it might be a good opportunity for Sung-shin.
He dreamed of becoming a professional gamer, so if things went well today, his popularity could skyrocket.
It wasn’t a bad offer for him either.
As soon as Sung-shin nodded, I signaled Jin-hyuk.
Jin-hyuk, who had brought the broadcasting equipment, set it up on the table.
A small camera and a stand.
Since Jin-hyuk often did outdoor broadcasts, he was very skilled at setting it up.
The camera was set up in 30 seconds, and all the preparations were complete.
“Hyung, this is your first outdoor broadcast, right?”
“Yeah, but I’ve watched enough, so it’s fine.”
“I’ll lead the way as your broadcasting senior…”
“Sure, just shut up and start, senior.”
“Since I’m appearing on your stream today, next time you have to come on mine… No, I’m sorry, I misspoke.”
“My viewers are kinder than you think.”
“Those wicked guys?”
Apparently, my viewers already had a nickname.
Wicked Guys.
Simple and perfectly representing their identity.
I was quite satisfied with it personally.
Anyway, we started the broadcast right away, and soon enough, the viewers’ chat began to flood in on the large screen attached to the camera.
-A broadcast at this time?
-2 PM… Twipod… Job… What?
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋFirst outdoor broadcast.
-Where is this?
-Three guys at a pasta place? Oh shitㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Hyung! This is disgusting right from the start today.
-Is one of them your brother, and who’s that kid in a school uniform? Another brother?
I was worried the viewers wouldn’t join in since it was a different time, but as soon as the broadcast started, they flooded in.
Probably because of the auto notification?
As always, the chat quickly became chaotic.
I glanced at the chat and opened my mouth slightly.
“I started the broadcast to eat lunch for those who might have skipped it. I’ll enjoy it to the fullest.”
-?
-??
-Ahㅋㅋㅋthe pasta is done for. Gonna eat pasta right away.
-Hey, who’s the kid in a school uniform?
-Isn’t it Sung-shin?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-No way, would Sung-shin come on? He’d be too scared.
The viewers’ interest turned to the unfamiliar face.
When I turned to look at Sung-shin, he was sweating and staring at the chat.
He wasn’t the most mentally tough person. If he were, he wouldn’t have been so easily manipulated by my words yesterday.
Plus, the viewers who joined the broadcast were true Wicked Guys.
For someone like Sung-shin, who wasn’t used to broadcasting, it was an overwhelming burden.
Sung-shin stared blankly at the chat for a moment, then awkwardly lowered his head and began to introduce himself.
“I’m… I’m Lee Sung-shin, a student at Sangshin High School… Sh-hyung invited me…”
-???
-Is that really Sung-shin?
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Sung-shin, if you were kidnapped, wave your fork with your right hand.
-Sung-shin looks more timid than I thought. I imagined him as a scary bully in the gameㅠ
-Really a nerd
-Nerd
-Hyung, I can already smell the garbage…
-How did you manage to invite him, you son of a bitchㅋㅋㅋㅋ
The chat was as heated as I had anticipated.
Seeing Sung-shin’s trembling eyes, he began to tear up and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry…
Sniff. I really… committed a grave sin…”
-Hey, why are you making the kid cry?
-Sung-shin! Why are you suddenly playing the victim?
-He looks pitiful.
-Is this the crocodile tears thing?ㅋㅋ
-Look at our devil’s faceㅋㅋㅋㅋ Holding back laughter.
These viewers always crossed the line, naturally.
It could be called their basic passive skill.
I watched the chat teasing Sung-shin and then cursed loudly.
“A high schooler is crying and apologizing, and you won’t accept it? Are you even human? You should be as magnanimous as I am. Jeez, pathetic.”
My words made the chat go wild.
-You’re the worst, aren’t you?
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋAre you insane?
-Apologizing while cursing?
-???
-Ohㅋㅋㅋthis is too unlikableㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Have a nice day, I recommend red.
The viewers’ reaction was as rough as expected.
But it was producing satisfactory footage.
While we were filming, the part-timer brought our food to the table.
I picked up my lemonade and looked at Sung-shin.
“Since I decided to reconcile with Sung-shin and settle yesterday’s unpleasant incident, don’t ask questions. Hey, Sung-shin.”
“Yes, yes, hyung.”
“How about a love shot as a gesture of reconciliation?”
In broadcasting, image is crucial.
Even if I portrayed myself as a villain on stream, it was good to show this kind of human side.
And this situation was the perfect opportunity to impress that image on the viewers.
As soon as I suggested it, Sung-shin nodded and picked up his drink.
“Hyung, really… thank you, sob. I’ll watch your stream diligently…”
“Shh.”
“Sob.”
“People make mistakes, right? Don’t worry, I hold no grudges.”
With that, Sung-shin, teary-eyed, shared a love shot with me.
-Hey, Sung-shin! Wake up! You’re just part of our devil’s show!
-This guy is really badㅋㅋㅋㅋ
-Oh fuckㅋㅋㅋ This is so gross.
-Three guys at a pasta place is already bad enough, but a love shot between guys?ㅋㅋㅋ
-Oh shit!!!
-Oppa! Are you cheating on me right now? (wobble wobble).
With the enthusiastic response from the viewers, everything was going according to my plan.