“Wow, just looking at it makes it seem super sweet. Is it tasty?”
“… Chwaap.”
“I totally forgot the shop moved! I’m sorry for making you wander, but can you please stop being mad?”
Under Na-me’s fierce glare, Seo Maru scratched his head with an awkward smile.
As the thick java chip was sucked through the straw, Maru swirled the ice in his iced Americano.
The cherry-like lips that detached from the straw mumbled.
“I’m not mad, I was just thinking a bit about the time you didn’t keep your promise.”
“The class president didn’t end things early today… but I still ran here as fast as I could.”
Just like Maru said, his head was completely soaked in sweat.
In fact, Na-me somewhat understood Maru’s situation when he entered the cafe without changing out of his dirtied work clothes.
“So, are you going to quit your current job?”
“Uh, suddenly? No matter what, how many places can pay as well as here? The class president is strict, but he’s still a good person. Don’t be too—”
“How much do you want?”
Before Maru could finish, Na-me turned a piece of paper 180 degrees and pushed it towards him.
“A V-tube joint venture contract? This is what Yuna mentioned! You said your acquaintance was broadcasting, right?”
[Twish streamer ‘NoName’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘Party A’) enters into a joint business agreement with V-tube editor ‘ ’ (hereinafter referred to as ‘Party B’) regarding profit sharing from operations on V-tube as follows.]
As Maru carefully glanced over the paper, Na-me corrected the false information.
“No, I’m the one doing it.”
“You? Wow, that’s impressive at such a young age! I heard kids these days all want to be internet streamers?”
“I’m not sure about that.”
“Eh, I don’t need to make it so grand by writing a contract when I owe Na-me. I can do some light editing without taking money, so let me know anytime if you need it. But seriously, where did you even get this contract from?”
Maru shone the paper under the cafe lights, looking amazed.
Na-me’s eyes narrowed for a moment. She doesn’t keep time, and there’s no seriousness.
I thought they were really an adult, can I really trust them?
Thinking it’s all for Yuna and her family, Na-me pulled out a thick envelope from her bag and handed it to Maru.
“Here, take it. I hope you quit your job today after receiving this.”
“Eh? What is this? Hmm… Aaaah!”
As soon as he opened the envelope, the bundles of yellow bills that greeted him made Maru’s chair topple backward.
Kudang tang-
The already unfriendly expression of the staff turned even worse.
Na-me bowed her head in apology instead and helped Maru up.
“What are you doing in a cafe?”
“Mon… Money… Did you bring this all the way here by yourself? What if you lose it?!”
The envelope contained an amount of money that a young child shouldn’t be carrying around.
Even if there were that many 1,000 won bills, it was enough to go to a buffet.
“First payment is 5 million won.”
“Eh?”
“Use this to buy a computer or another capsule. You can take Yuna out to eat too.”
“Are you serious? Do you know how much money this is?”
Maru’s expression hardened like a rock.
Even after working hard all day sweating, he only saw a few bills.
He couldn’t understand Na-me’s intention behind casually handing it over.
“I know. That’s why I’m giving it to you.”
Seeing Na-me’s innocent expression, Maru slapped his forehead.
“No, I can’t accept this money. I appreciate your concern.”
“I think there’s a misunderstanding.”
Na-me paused mid-sentence, brought her frappuccino cup to her lips, and took a sip. When she pulled away, a little white cream remained on her lips.
“I’m seriously trying to hire you as my editor, Maru Oppa. I’m not just giving you money as a donation or volunteer work.”
She wiped her mouth with a napkin. Even that trivial action exuded the elegance of a European noble.
“For the first month, there might be no revenue from the videos. That’s why I’m giving you the 5 million won. After that, any revenue up to 5 million won a month will go to you. Anything beyond that will be split 50-50, as indicated in the contract. Half of it will be set aside for Yuna.”
“Wait a minute…”
Hearing Na-me’s suddenly serious words, he carefully read through the contract again.
It seemed this wasn’t just child’s play; the contract addressed all the details regarding profit distribution and more.
Lowering the paper, an eight-year-old kid’s face peeked out.
“So, do you feel like doing it now?”
With a profound smile, Maru hesitated before speaking.
“No. This still doesn’t seem right.”
“Why?”
Na-me seemed caught off guard, pressing her forehead, seemingly struggling.
She crossed her arms, displaying a stubborn demeanor, asking what the reason was.
Seo Maru’s stance was ultimately straightforward.
He would rather take on a side job than give up his current livelihood.
He didn’t know how much editors earn, but he was already making enough to get by, with no luxury to invest in uncertainty.
Perhaps it showcased the responsibility he felt as a breadwinner.
But Na-me picked up the envelope again.
“Oppa, do you know? I earned this in just one day.”
“Eh?”
“Actually, it wasn’t even a full day; the withdrawal limit is 500 a day, so I probably earned even more.”
“No way, really? What kind of broadcasting do you do? Do kids’ channels make that much money?”
Did he too underestimate the internet broadcasting market? The unimaginable truth left Maru feeling dazed.
If I’d known this, I should’ve just fed Yuna some jjajangmyeon… thought Seo Maru, mumbling incoherently.
“It’s not a kids’ channel.”
Na-me tilted her head for a moment but soon laid the recording memory on the table.
The blue-hued hologram gradually shifted to a white background, showcasing the game screen she played just yesterday.
“Have you played Wagal?”
“Eh? I used to play it a lot back in the day. It’s been a while, though.”
He didn’t watch the full 12-hour footage but paused the video after about five minutes of viewing.
“If you have 20,000 live viewers, isn’t that a lot? Right?”
“I wouldn’t say it’s small.”
“I already knew you were amazing, but the more I learn, the more I feel lost.”
“That’s why I want to do it.”
When Na-me reached the point of irritation, she snapped back.
“Fine, I’ll do it. I should actually thank you for this opportunity. But is this really okay for you? You could find a much better editor.”
“Yuna told me. Her Oppa draws the best pictures in the world. For videos, I can just cut and upload them, and my editing skills will naturally improve. What I’m specifically asking for is the thumbnail.”
“Thumbnail?”
Na-me opened the V-tube app and scrolled through the list of trending videos.
All the videos were simply direct screenshots of the game.
“Instead of that, please draw a fitting thumbnail for each video. I don’t want the editing work to feel like simple repetitive labor for you, Maru Oppa. Then later, I can proudly show Yuna what work you do by presenting the pictures, right?”
“Are you saying that’s why you called me…?”
Maru looked between the hologram and the contract with trembling eyes.
It was a dream he had long forgotten about.
“Yuna is still hoping her Oppa will become a wonderful illustrator. Do you still hold on to that dream?”
“I do… yeah…”
Seo Maru bit his lip, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of emotions.
The future he had to sacrifice for his family.
And he could feel that opportunities really come from the most unexpected places.
“I believe true art doesn’t just stop at mimicking perceptible phenomena. It reveals its worth only when one understands the essence of phenomena or beings and reinterprets it in their own way through thorough contemplation. I believe you can accomplish that.”
“If you keep talking so well… who would believe you’re a kid?”
Maru let out a chuckle, gazing proudly at the girl before him.
“Thank you so much… I’ll never forget this kindness.”
Na-me shyly averted her eyes, awkwardly handing him a pen.
“Great. Then you’ll take care of it, right? I’ll let you know the detailed requirements later on chat; you just need to sign here. That’s why I called you here today.”
“So, does that mean I start working from today?”
“What are you talking about? You already finished today’s work. Just go home and buy something delicious for Yuna.”
“But I just received so much money.”
“I didn’t give you money.”
What Na-me was trying to say was more than just money.
As she neatly packed away the file and video device, she said,
“Even if you were given billions, it wouldn’t change the time you’ve been given. So, I hope you have a good time with your family. Please say hi to Eomeoni for me.”
Not money, but time.
And the friendships, love, memories, and happiness that come with it.
Wishing that he would fully understand that meaning before regretting it, Na-me packed her things and left the cafe.
Coincidentally, on the large hologram hanging in the blue sky, news about protests from Wagal users was being reported.
“They complained about the food being wrong, didn’t they?”
Na-me, determined to show what a truly unreasonable customer is, took her phone back out of her pocket to make a call.
[Cheon Sae-min]
