Chuseok
Alright, stay calm.
It's not like I got caught mid-stream. It's just the equipment, that's all.
From the look of it, Kim Namseok (17) seemed to know a bit about computers, but this was still something I could brush off.
"Streaming? What are you talking about?"
"Oh, it's just… the setup looks exactly like that."
I feigned ignorance without missing a beat.
Keeping a straight face was basic for me.
I was Miro, a top-tier VTuber who could shamelessly brazen it out if needed.
"Mm, I guess it could look that way. But actually, noona works in design. That's why the computer's good, and I need two monitors."
Well, I had dropped out of university, but I did still take design jobs. Rarely, but still.
I'd even done album art for that famous singer, Slim Gold.
"Oh…."
"And where do you think that allowance I just gave you came from? All hard-earned from my work."
Bringing up the allowance seemed to convince him.
Good. What could he really say when I stated it so firmly?
It's not like he could check the computer right now—
Bzzz—
…?
At that moment, the boot-up sound came from the PC.
I turned to see Jang Woori (8) with her tiny finger still on the power button.
"Wow… it's glowing."
"W-wait a sec—"
The tower lit up, and the Windows logo appeared on the monitor.
And my high-end PC? It only took five seconds to boot.
The system started.
And up popped my desktop background: a high-quality illustration of my Miro character, drawn by a fan.
Silence fell.
My mind raced.
This silence couldn't last.
I moved quickly, acting as if it was no big deal, and gently placed my hands on Woori's (8) shoulders.
"Woori, how about we go eat now?"
"Who's that?"
But her eyes were already locked on the screen.
That pink-haired, emerald-eyed, little-horned demon-girl character was enchanting my cousin….!
And it wasn't just her.
Behind me, Namseok (17) and Yuna (15) were staring too.
Why did this feel so tense?
Nothing had really been exposed.
I could just say I liked anime and set a character wallpaper, right?
"Hahaha, that's just a character unni likes. Okay, too much screen time will hurt your eyes, so let's turn this off."
I smoothly, quickly moved the mouse, shut down the PC, and scooped Woori (8) up into my arms.
She was… surprisingly heavy.
Why was a little kid this heavy? Or was I just weak?
Either way, with my arms trembling, I carried Woori (8) out toward the living room, while the stunned sibling duo followed behind with Yul (3).
There. Crisis averted.
I'd played it off naturally, so it was fine.
Even if cold sweat was dripping down my back, I managed to cover it.
In the living room, the adults were already bustling about, setting chopsticks on the table.
And wow… just the sight of the menu made my mouth water.
Every single Chuseok dish you could think of was spread out.
First, I put Woori (8) down from my arms.
Even after setting her down, my arms were trembling.
That was one hell of a workout….
"Me too! Me too, carry me!"
Apparently, Yul (3) had been moved by the sight of me carrying her sister and now latched onto me.
Yes, yes… I know being held by me is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but not right now, okay?
"Yul, let's eat first."
I needed to eat too. Recharge my energy before carrying anyone again.
"Hey, Yul, don't bother your unni."
Thankfully, my aunt stood and scooped Yul (3) up.
Finally free, I darted over to sit beside Manager Kim.
He was clearly the eldest son and the head of this household, giving him high rank in this family gathering.
Of course, in this kind of situation, sticking close to the person with the highest status was the smart move.
"Woori, did unni play with you well?"
"Yes!"
"Oh my, Soo-hyun, how admirable. You're even looking after the kids now."
The adults' gazes made me feel a bit pressured.
Understandable, though. Last year I hadn't even shown up, and the year before that I'd locked myself in a room and let no one in.
Now here I was, entertaining the kids—it was bound to be surprising.
They'd probably just chalk it up to me finally maturing now that I was an adult.
In reality, I wasn't the one playing with them—it was the Kim siblings I subcontracted the job to.
But hey, I'd paid them well for it.
Thanks to the fat stack of cash I'd given them—too much for high schoolers, honestly—they were now quietly glued to their phones, eating in silence.
Even at the dinner table, they couldn't put their phones down. Kids these days, I swear… maybe their phones should all just be confiscated.
"Here, eat this too."
"Mm."
Sitting beside Manager Kim, I accepted the slices of meat and jeon he placed onto my plate, and soon I was completely stuffed.
I felt overflowing energy, like I could do anything.
So this was the power of Chuseok food?
If I streamed right now, it would've been perfect… but I'd already posted a break notice, and tonight was definitely impossible.
Besides, even though there was a guest room, the kids had grown enough that Yuna (15), Woori (8), and Yul (3) would all be sleeping in my room. So streaming was out of the question.
Even if I tried, those curious little sisters might burst in at any time.
If they barged in mid-stream and started talking about how I was a princess….
I didn't even want to imagine it.
After dinner, everyone naturally gathered in the living room again—both kids and adults.
Bellies full, it was that time of the evening when the whole family sat watching TV, eating fruit, kids showing off cute antics, and adults opening their wallets.
Even Bokshil, who'd been roaming the yard, was dragged inside, and with everyone gathered, the once-spacious living room felt packed to the brim.
"What was our baby playing earlier?"
Beside me sat my aunt, holding Yul (3), who piped up at just the wrong time.
Hmm… I needed to phrase this carefully.
If she said, 'Soo-hyun unni was just lying on the bed while the other oppa and unni played with us!' it'd make everyone look bad.
So I glanced at Yul (3), trying to signal her to say the right thing—but how could a three-year-old pick up on that?
As expected, Yul spoke with complete honesty
"I saw something amazing in unni's room!"
"Hm? Amazing?"
"Yes! It was all sparkly, and there were two TVs, and on them was a picture of a really pretty unni."
Hey, don't you think that sounds a little weird when you say it like that?
Well, she wasn't wrong, but still.
She probably didn't know the word monitor and just called them TVs, but if she said it like that, wouldn't the adults get curious?
"Really? What's in Soo-hyun's room, then?"
Sure enough, my aunt gave me a curious glance.
"Oh, I just have a computer in my room. Yul must've thought it looked interesting."
Of course, it was a machine worth well into the millions of won, but still—at the end of the day, it was just a computer.
As expected, the adults didn't know much about computers, so they nodded vaguely and let it slide.
But really, what was I gaining by sitting here?
It's not like I needed pocket money. I wasn't so desperate I had to put on a show for cash.
If I stuck around, the kids might start talking about me more, and that would only make things difficult for me.
Worse yet, the adults might start asking, "So, Soo-hyun, what are you doing these days?"
And what could I say? Oh, I dropped out of university and became a VTuber. I couldn't exactly show them my channel.
Yeah… I should just head back to my room.
I stood up quietly and naturally, slipping away toward my room.
Madam Jang shot me a look on the way, but I'd already played with the kids plenty. I'd done my part.
Once I stepped into my empty room, I felt myself relax.
Yes, this was my space.
With the adults' chatter outside as background noise, I stretched out comfortably on my bed.
My stomach was full, my back was warm—no wonder I was so drowsy.
Come to think of it, I should've laid out blankets for the kids ahead of time, but my eyes were already closing.
Eh, Madam Jang or one of the other adults would take care of it.
Or I could just get up later if I had to.
With that thought, I let my eyes close for just a little nap….
"Mmm…."
When I opened them again, I felt a heavy weight pressing down.
What the—? It was kind of hot too….
I blinked myself fully awake and found Jang Yul (3) sprawled right on top of me, sound asleep, drooling all over her chubby cheeks.
Did she really like me that much?
Thankfully, the blanket kept my clothes from getting soaked in drool.
Sure, the blanket was damp, but come on—she was only three. It wasn't that gross. I could just wash it later.
Carefully, I moved Yul (3) to the side and sat up.
In the dim room, I saw the kids asleep.
The Jang sisters were on the bed. Down on the floor, a blanket was laid out, but no one was sleeping there.
Weird. Wasn't Kim Yuna (15) supposed to be down there? Where'd she go?
Since I was already awake, I stepped out of the room.
In the living room, a few adults were lying on bedding, asleep.
Ah, and there was Kim Namseok (17), sleeping among them.
So it seemed the men were sleeping in the living room, while the women were spread between the guest rooms and my room.
Quietly, careful not to wake anyone, I headed to the kitchen for a drink of water. Then, thinking I might as well get some fresh air, I went out to the yard.
Where was Boksil? Last I'd seen, he'd been dragged inside. Maybe he'd tired himself out and gone to sleep.
The night air was cool and refreshing now. I crossed the yard, opened the gate, and stepped outside.
The moonlit alley stretched before me, glowing silver—
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Thwack!
There was Kim Yuna (15).
Huh….
Her yellow-dyed hair shimmered under the moonlight as she spun.
What was she doing in the alley?
From behind, it looked like she'd set her phone down in front of her and was dancing. Just like those challenges Hyun-jun and Hyun-soo always filmed.
Of course, she was only in middle school, so her arms and legs were short, making it a bit clumsy.
I stood there watching for a while as she danced alone, then saw her stop to catch her breath and grab her phone.
When she turned, her eyes met mine.
"…!"
She froze, staring at me wide-eyed like she'd just seen a ghost.
What should I even say to a mortified teenage girl like this? After thinking a moment, I opened my mouth.
"Uh… what is that, TokTik? Or whatever it's called?"
"Eek! Forget you saw this!"
I'd been trying to build some common ground, but at those words, Yuna squeezed her eyes shut and collapsed on the spot.
I understood that embarrassment all too well.
When I was the one embarrassed, it was pure agony.
But seeing someone else go through it? I couldn't help but laugh.
I shouldn't laugh. I knew I shouldn't—
But….
"Don't worry, it's fine—pfft! Hahaha!!"
"Don't laugh!"
Sorry….
But how could I not?
This was too funny.
"Pfft! Ahahahaha!"
"Aaagh, please!"
Really, though—who told her to dance in front of someone else's house?
Looked like Kim Yuna (15) was going to be kicking her blanket off in bed a lot tonight.
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