I Can See a VTuber’s Red Pills - Chapter 38

It was a lazy afternoon.

The sky was clear without a single cloud, but my mood wasn’t as clear as that sky.

I idly rolled the lukewarm coffee cup in my hand, lacking the motivation to do much of anything.

Ajung’s and Rinne’s broadcasts were still on a roll, and Yoon Taesoo was steadily building the system for the ‘company game’ called Xelnaga Entertainment.

Everything was progressing smoothly within the grand picture I had drawn.

So smoothly, in fact, that it was becoming rather dull.

That might be why my eyes were drawn more to the new gem named ‘Solar.’

[Rinne]: Solar-nim, did you have lunch today? I had naengmyeon with Ajung today, and it was delicious!

[Rinne]: (Photo attached)

[Solar]: Wow, that looks good… I just had something simple.

[Rinne]: Hey, don’t do that, you need to eat well! That’s how your singing will get even better! ㅎㅎ

On one side of my monitor, the messenger window displayed Jungyeon and Solar’s conversation, updating in real time.

A few days ago, after I had grandly messed things up from the start with my ill-advised remarks, Jungyeon had been helping me clean up the aftermath.

Fortunately, with her unique sociability and skill, she seemed to be slowly breaking down Solar’s wariness.

The frequency of DM replies had increased, and her previously curt answers were gradually becoming longer.

Apparently, they had even started talking on the phone recently.

But by my standards, the pace was still frustratingly slow.

Trust built over a few DMs and phone calls?

Sure, it’s important.

But that’s how it works in ordinary relationships.

What I wanted wasn’t such a lukewarm development of a relationship.

“……She’s being very cautious.”

I muttered quietly and scrolled the mouse wheel.

My only playground to alleviate my boredom, the ‘Ggizzik VTuber Gallery.’

It was as noisy as ever today.

As expected, stories about me and Solar were prevalent there.

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[Ggizzik VTuber Gallery]

Title: When is Solar streaming today?

It’s f*cking hilarious because of Naga-hyung these days lololol

Don’t know what he ate wrong, but the crazy *diot is acting as a manager and moderating chats lolololol

He should be doing that on Ajung’s or Rinne’s streams; he was all about sexual compliments on his own talents’ streams before lololololol

– He’s just a psycho lolololol

– The abusive dad at home is rumored to be a super kind and family-oriented man outside lol

ㄴ You f*cker, that analogy lololololol

ㄴ FR lololololol

– But seriously, isn’t that just a concept? How can a person be like that?

ㄴ You guys taught him, you crazy diots lolololol

ㄴ Fck, so if I tell you to die, you’ll die???

– Anyway, Solar seems to have a weak mentality, I hope Naga-hyung coaxes her well and definitely brings her to Starlight ㅠㅠ

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Title: I guarantee Starlight’s 3rd member is Solar.

If not, Naga-hyung wouldn’t be managing her mentality by even acting as her manager.

And Solar herself is totally Naga-hyung’s type.

Bottom-tier + emotionally fragile.

Plus, she sings well.

What’s Starlight lacking? Vocals.

Ajung has a good vocal color and is improving with lessons, and Rinne is decent, but it was a bit lacking to be called a true ‘vocal pick.’

But if Solar joins, the vocal pick will be complete.

If you disagree, you’re right.

– True, +1

– Don’t need anything else, if he saves Solar too, I’ll worship Zelnaga from now on.

– But can Solar do group activities? Watching her streams, she seems even more emotionally fragile than Ajung.

ㄴ Haven’t you seen Naga-hyung build people with money once or twice? It’ll be solved once she enters the Starlight Rehab Center.

– Rinne’s gonna have a tough time lol. After Ajung, now she has to take care of Solar too lololol

“Rehab center, huh.”

A smirk escaped me.

Their vulgar expressions were still the same, but they weren’t wrong.

Solar was definitely the type to require a lot more hands-on attention than Ajung or Rinne, albeit in a different way.

But at the same time, the satisfaction of completing her would be incomparable.

The problem, as always, was time.

Even the community was anticipating the next step; I couldn’t just keep testing the waters indefinitely.

Considering Solar’s unstable psyche was important, but there was a separate, more certain and faster way to move her heart.

To directly touch upon her most intense desire.

‘Shall we start making some real progress now?’

I decided to reclaim the initiative I had entrusted to Jungyeon.

Any more draining emotional exchanges were inefficient.

It was time for me to wield my most powerful weapon.

I pressed the intercom button.

“Jungyeon. Come up for a moment. I have something to discuss regarding Solar.”

Soon after, Jungyeon entered the study, looking somewhat tense.

She seemed worried beforehand about what unpredictable directive I might issue next.

“Boss, you called? Regarding Solar-nim, I’ve been continuously talking with her…….”

“Yes, I’m watching. But it’s too slow.”

I cut her off and placed the tablet on the table.

“Boss, but Solar-nim is still very anxious, so we need to give her time…….”

“I know. I know she’s a very cautious person. But I don’t think we can just keep waiting forever.”

I leaned back in my chair and spoke leisurely.

Trying not to seem impatient, yet conveying confidence in my decision.

“That girl, Solar, she knows the value of her own voice better than anyone. And she must be yearning for an environment where she can best realize that value.”

Jungyeon’s eyes widened slightly.

It seemed she had an inkling of what I was about to say.

“Perhaps… if you’re talking about the recording studio you mentioned before, we’ve only just reached the stage of phone calls beyond DMs. It’s still a bit…….”

“You think it’s too soon?”

I gently picked up on her words.

“Of course, there will still be psychological barriers. But it’s just a matter of getting her to come here, even just once. This isn’t a question of impatience, but of the most efficient strategy.”

I emphasized the keywords ‘efficiency’ and ‘strategy’ to make her understand.

I was appealing to the logical judgment that this was the surest way to move Solar’s heart, not just a greedy desire to recruit her quickly.

“Make an offer to Solar. If she feels burdened, tell her she can just look around the recording studio and leave. Let her see for herself the level of our facilities and how her voice can shine here. If she feels pressured, you can even casually offer to help her record her next cover song.”

At my calm yet confident explanation, Jungyeon fell silent for a moment.

Her eyes wavered.

She might still think my method was risky.

But at the same time, she couldn’t deny that this was a powerful card to sway Solar’s heart.

“…Understood, Boss.”

Eventually, she nodded.

“I’ll trust your judgment, Boss. I’ll try my best to convey it to Solar-nim… as gently as possible, so she doesn’t feel bad.”

“Good. You can adjust the specific method or timing while observing Solar’s reactions, Jungyeon. You’ve spent time interacting with her, after all.”

I made a gesture as if respecting her judgment and expressed my trust in her.

“Yes, Boss! Then I’ll tell Solar-nim right away…….”

“No, not right now.”

I raised my hand to stop her.

“Just talk to her like usual today. Maybe tomorrow? Or the day after? When Solar seems to be in a slightly better mood, bring it up naturally. Rushing it too much could backfire.”

Proceed quickly, but the process shouldn’t feel too blatant to the other party.

Even when casting bait, you have to make the fish think it took the bait on its own.

Jungyeon looked slightly surprised at the leisurely instruction, a stark contrast to my previous urgent demands, but her expression soon relaxed as if relieved.

“Yes! Understood, Boss!”

She left the study with a noticeably lighter expression.

Alone again, I gazed out the window.

All the cards had been dealt.

The best bait, and the fisherman who could deliver it most effectively.

I sank deep into my chair and a satisfied smile played on my lips.

Solar’s voice still echoed clearly from the monitor.

“Can I… look forward to it?”

Though I said it like that, this was a gamble of sorts.

It was far too risky a proposition for someone like Solar, who seemed startled by even a stone on the road.

But I trusted the Solar I had observed so far.

The rumor that she was an idol trainee.

The existence of trauma that made her act out as if having a seizure.

The fact that despite her extremely timid demeanor, she was still continuing to broadcast.

It also meant that she was still expecting something from this ‘VTuber’ thing and was waiting for her ‘chance’ to come.