I Can See a VTuber’s Red Pills - Chapter 37

The hazy morning sunlight seeping through the window tickled Yoon Sol’s eyelids.

But she couldn’t bring herself to get out from under the covers.

Perhaps because she had tossed and turned all night, her whole body felt as heavy as lead.

The events of last night felt distant, like a dream, yet they clung to her mind like a sticky afterimage.

Zelnaga.

The overwhelming weight his name carried.

And his clumsy apology and manager charade.

‘A strange person.’

He was definitely scary and unpleasant, but perhaps it was because of the laughter that had burst out at the end.

More than the suffocating fear she’d felt before, confusion and a tiny bit of curiosity now loomed larger.

…Beep.

She picked up her phone, which had been lying экраном down beside her pillow, and checked the screen.

It was a notification for Rinne’s message, which had arrived late last night and to which she still hadn’t replied.

[Rinne]: And if you have time, let’s chat for a bit! I want to get to know you, Solar-nim!

‘I want to get to know you.’

That last sentence particularly weighed on her mind.

Was it mere courtesy?

Or genuine personal interest?

Or perhaps… an order from that person, Zelnaga?

‘…I don’t know.’

She couldn’t judge rashly.

But she also felt she couldn’t keep hiding like this forever.

Perhaps.

Just perhaps.

A dangerous yet irresistible whisper echoed in her ears, suggesting this might truly be her last chance.

Yoon Sol slowly sat up.

Goosebumps rose as the cold air touched her bare skin.

With trembling hands, she picked up her phone.

She opened the DM window with Rinne.

She slowly reread the message she had read countless times.

Was it her imagination, or did she faintly sense a similar kind of anxiety and desperation in Rinne’s bright and cheerful tone?

No, Rinne was already successful.

A member of the Starlight Project who had made a spectacular re-debut, with the immense backing of Zelnaga.

Her situation was different from Yoon Sol’s.

But… despite that.

Yoon Sol began to type a reply very slowly, writing and deleting it over and over again.

---

“…It’s here.”

A small smile spread across Yoo Jungyeon’s lips as she reviewed the mock-ups on her monitor in her penthouse office.

It was the reply she had been waiting for all night.

After sending the DM to Solar, she hadn’t been able to put her phone down, her heart anxious.

All sorts of worries had plagued her mind: Had Solar completely closed herself off because of Hajun’s impulsive actions?

Had her own apology perhaps added more pressure?

But thankfully, Solar had responded, albeit very cautiously.

[Solar]: Hello Rinne-nim. Thank you for the DM. And… thank you for your concern. To be honest, I was very surprised, but your message helped clear up some misunderstandings.

‘Cleared up some misunderstandings.’

Not perfect, but she had avoided the worst.

Yoo Jungyeon let out a sigh of relief.

This was where it truly began.

She had to slowly break down Solar’s defenses, acting as a fellow VTuber, or perhaps just as a friendly older sister, while keeping Hajun’s presence to a minimum.

[Rinne]: I’m even more grateful that you replied! I was worried I might have contacted you too aggressively ㅠㅠ Thank goodness! If you’re free now, would you be available for a quick call? I thought it might be more comfortable to talk via voice than DM! Of course, it’s okay if you’re uncomfortable!

She proposed the next step as unburdensome yet naturally as possible.

She knew from experience that voice was more effective than text, and meeting in person was more effective than voice, in advancing a relationship.

The reply came sooner than expected.

[Solar]: Ah… a call is a bit… I’m sorry… Talking via DM is okay!

As expected, it was still too much.

Yoo Jungyeon swallowed her disappointment and quickly sent a reply.

[Rinne]: Oh, yes, yes! Of course! DMs are totally fine too! I was too hasty, I’m sorry ㅠㅠ Then let’s chat comfortably via DM! Solar-nim, have you eaten yet? I was just about to eat!

She tried to steer the conversation towards everyday, light topics.

Don’t rush.

Slowly, at her pace.

---

“So, did you get a reply?”

I asked, placing my lukewarm coffee cup down on the table.

I had told Jungyeon to keep reporting the progress to me.

Just in case I directly intervened and messed things up again.

I was sick and tired of Jungyeon’s nagging.

“Yes, Boss. I just received a DM reply. She said she was very surprised, but my explanation seems to have cleared up some misunderstandings.”

Yoo Jungyeon turned her tablet screen towards me.

The conversation between the VTuber named ‘Solar’ and Jungyeon filled the screen.

I scrolled down, quickly skimming the content.

Short, hesitant sentences.

It was obvious she was still scared.

Jungyeon’s efforts to lighten the mood accordingly were commendable, but the frustration was unavoidable.

“She refused the call?”

Just as I thought.

“Yes. It seems she’s still a bit uncomfortable. So, I’m planning to continue talking via DM for now.”

“Hmm.”

It seems more serious than I expected.

My brow furrowed involuntarily.

But what could I do?

It was my mess.

And Solar’s voice… was too precious to give up on.

It had a sharp, sorrowful, yet captivating charm, completely different from Ajung or Rinne.

“Keep trying. But don’t drag it out too long.”

I said it casually, as if tossing out a comment, but inwardly I trusted Jungyeon.

From my perspective, things were progressing frustratingly slowly, but there must be something that women understand amongst themselves.

Isn’t she the expert over there?

If I interfered unnecessarily, it would clearly just make things more complicated.

“Yes, sir! I’ll do my best to befriend her as naturally as possible and instill a positive perception of our company!”

Seeing Jungyeon answer so spiritedly reassured me a little.

Is it a relief that she’s at least this motivated?

I nodded slightly and turned my gaze back to the monitor.

Solar’s channel was displayed on the screen.

I absently played one of her cover songs.

“……….”

No matter how many times I listened, it gave me goosebumps.

This wasn’t just a matter of talent.

How could a voice like this have remained buried until now?

‘I can’t let that talent go to waste.’

Something hot surged from deep within my chest.

An intense desire to add that voice to my collection, to the Starlight Project.

Stage fright?

Trauma?

I couldn’t care less about such things.

I had the power to make such trivial problems insignificant.

Money.

And the perfect environment that money could create.

Afraid of standing on stage?

Then I just won’t put her on stage.

I could provide the best studio, the best equipment, the best engineers.

If I provided the perfect environment solely for her voice, trauma wouldn’t be an issue.

No, it would be even better.

The catharsis upon overcoming it would be greater.

Just imagining myself helping her overcome her trauma, and her finally singing confidently in front of people, sent an electrifying thrill through my entire body.

That picture would surely be as perfect as Ajung’s showcase, no, perhaps even more so.

“Ms. Yoo.”

“Yes, Boss?”

I called Jungyeon again.

She, who had been standing there pretending to review documents instead of leaving, immediately looked up.

“How about showing her our company’s recording studio?”

“Pardon? The recording studio?”

“Yes. Tell her it’s fully equipped with top-of-the-line gear that any VTuber would covet. That it’s a completely different league from other VTubers’ environments. Naturally guide her to come visit for a tour. If she’s uploaded cover songs, she must have recorded a lot. Could she refuse?”

Just sitting around and waiting wasn’t my style.

I had to cast a bait.

A very sweet, irresistible, fatal bait at that.

“What? Already? We’ve only just started to get a little closer. She must still be very wary…….”

Jungyeon asked back, flustered.

As expected, she was still thinking at a conventional level.

“If we’re too late, someone else might snatch her up, right?”

Of course, that wouldn’t happen, but I was just saying it.

“We need to at least put the bait out there. If we clearly show her what we have, wouldn’t she be swayed, no matter how deep her trauma?”

A confident smirk appeared on my lips.

Solar’s unstable appearance, the intense talent hidden behind that vulnerability.

I desperately wanted to bring that into my fold.

Jungyeon seemed at a loss for words for a moment, her lips pressed firmly together.

But soon, with a small sigh, she shrugged as if she understood my intention.

That expression, I was used to it now.

At first, she would be horrified, but now she gives up and accepts things rather quickly.

“Understood, Boss. I’ll talk to Solar-nim a bit more… and then naturally bring it up. I’ll be careful not to make her feel too uncomfortable.”

In the end, she had no choice but to move according to my plan again.

Because she was the loyal and competent leader of Starlight, appointed by me.

I gave a short word of encouragement and turned my gaze back to the monitor.

I heard the sound of Jungyoon quietly leaving the study.

I opened Solar’s channel again.

Against the dark background, only her avatar floated solitarily.

There were no new videos or announcements yet.

But it didn’t matter.

The die had been cast.

All I had to do was wait for that precarious little bird to take the sweet bait I had thrown.

She definitely wouldn’t be able to resist.

That desire to freely unfurl her voice in the best possible environment.

I sank deeper into my chair and played Solar’s cover song again.

Her voice cut through the silence of the penthouse, resonating throughout the space.