I Can See a VTuber’s Red Pills - Chapter 39

The weather today was no different from the day before.

No, actually, it might have been different from yesterday.

Yoon Sol’s house was always sealed off with curtains, so much so that she didn’t even know when she had last looked outside.

She was still on her bed, unable to emerge from the pile of blankets.

Perhaps because she hadn’t slept well for several days, her eyelids felt incredibly heavy, and her limbs were as limp as waterlogged cotton.

The fear that had assaulted her in the darkness that day seemed to have faded, but a sticky anxiety still clung to the area around her heart.

Just then, as she was blankly counting stains on the ceiling.

Beep.

The phone screen lit up with a notification sound.

Her body flinched reflexively.

‘It must be… Rinne.’

For the past few days, Rinne had been contacting her consistently.

It started with concerned greetings and gradually transitioned to trivial daily chatter.

Honestly, it was burdensome.

Mainly because of the shadow of the name ‘Zelnaga’ flickering beyond Rinne’s messages.

But at the same time, that consistency and brightness were slowly tapping on the hardened walls of her heart.

It was a kind of attention she had never experienced before.

Not malice or calculation, but something that felt like pure goodwill…….

She hesitated for a long time.

Even reaching her hand out from under the blankets required great resolve.

The cold touch of the phone reached her fingertips.

[Rinne]: Solar-nim! Did you have lunch? I had naengmyeon with Ajung today, and it was so delicious! Kaaah, photo drop!

[Rinne]: (Photo of refreshing-looking naengmyeon)

[Rinne]: The weather’s hot, I wonder what Solar-nim ate~?

The screen was full of bright energy.

Her chatty tone, as if she were chattering right beside her, had become quite familiar now.

‘…I should reply.’

She couldn’t ignore it.

Despite being busy, Rinne hadn’t forgotten to check in on her, regardless of how it all started.

[Solar]: Wow, that looks delicious. I just ordered something simple.

The tips of her fingers tingled slightly as she typed.

She was still cautious, and the very act of exchanging greeting texts with someone like this felt awkward.

[Rinne]: Eeeh~ You can’t just get by with something simple! Our company’s vocal coach said so! You need to eat well for your singing to be even stronger! I’ll treat you to something really delicious next time! Promise!

[Solar]: Ah, no. It’s okay heh.. Your thought alone is enough, thank you..

[Rinne]: Oops, was I being too forward? But Solar-nim, are you perhaps free this weekend or sometime next week?

For a moment, Yoon Sol’s heart sank.

She had a premonition that what she feared had come.

The word ‘meeting,’ the one she wanted to avoid most, surfaced before her eyes.

[Solar]: The weekend..? Why.. Is something wrong..

[Rinne]: No, no! It’s not like that~ It’s just… since we’ve been talking like this, I thought it would be more fun to meet in person, have a delicious meal, and chat! My treat! How about it? (๑•̀ㅁ•́๑)✧

As expected.

A meal.

A meeting.

Warning bells went off in her head.

No.

It’s still too much for me.

[Solar]: Wow, Rinne-nim, that’s a really kind offer.. but actually.. I’m still not feeling very well.. I can’t really go out.. I’m so sorry.. Next time, definitely.. ㅠㅠ

Her fingers trembled as she sent the message of refusal.

Her throat felt parched.

Am I running away like this again?

[Rinne]: Huk! Oh, I see! ㅠㅠ Aigo, I was being clueless again..

[Rinne]: Are you okay? Are you sick or something? Should I bring you some porridge? We can’t have that nightingale-like voice get damaged! ᕙ(•̀‸•́‶)ᕗ

Instead of the expected disappointment or urging, a message full of worry returned.

She was even trying to lighten the mood with jokes.

Yoon Sol was momentarily speechless.

This person really… why is she going this far?

[Solar]: No, no! It’s not that bad! I just don’t have much energy.. Thank you for your concern, I’m really okay.

[Rinne]: Phew, that’s a relief.. Then you should get plenty of rest! Aww, what a shame~ (๑•́₋•̩̀๑)

[Rinne]: Actually, after eating, I was thinking of casually~ showing you around our company! It’s newly built and super shiny and dazzling! ✧(๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵)و

‘A company tour?’

Yoon Sol’s eyes widened.

Xelnaga Entertainment.

That veiled space.

[Rinne]: Our boss really, how should I put it… I don’t know if he has no sense of reality or if he’s just extremely generous… he poured money into it..

She couldn’t take her eyes off Rinne’s message, who was chattering excitedly as if it were her own business.

[Rinne]: The facilities are all seriously no joke, you know? Especially the recording studio!!

[Rinne]: I became a huge fan after hearing your cover songs, Solar-nim, and I thought if your voice was recorded in a place like this, it would truly soar as if it had wings!

[Rinne]: Just opening the recording studio door makes you go ‘Wow!’ ₍₍ (ง ˙ω˙)ว ⁾⁾

Her heart pounded as if it would explode.

Her mind felt like it was going blank.

Recording studio.

The best equipment.

Her voice taking flight.

Every cell in her body reacted to those words, sending thrilling shivers through her.

It was an irresistible, fatally alluring temptation.

[Rinne]: And the motion capture studio? Anyone who sees it would think they’re filming a Hollywood movie there!

[Rinne]: Ajung and I almost had our legs give out while filming a dance cover video there lol

[Rinne]: Ah, this is just me rambling! I got too excited and chattered on to someone who’s not feeling well! I’m sorry! I hope you get well soon! (・´з`・)♥

Rinne skillfully wrapped up her words, trying to lessen the burden, but a huge ripple had already formed in Yoon Sol’s heart.

The best recording studio.

The place she had only imagined, only dreamed of.

A space that could perfectly capture her voice.

If she went there, could her talent truly shine fully?

Could she escape this wretched trauma and focus solely on her singing?

But that place belonged to Zelnaga.

She might run into him.

She might once again receive unbearable attention and expectations.

The horrifying past might repeat itself.

‘I want to go.’

From deep within her heart, a suppressed, instinctive longing burst forth.

‘I shouldn’t go. It’s dangerous.’

Cold reason desperately suppressed that longing.

Her head felt like it would explode.

Hot desire and cold fear clashed violently, muddling her consciousness.

She couldn’t tell which was her true heart, what was the right choice.

After staring blankly at her phone screen for a long time, Yoon Sol found herself typing unconsciously.

With very slow, unsteady hands.

[Solar]: The recording studio… is it really… that good..?

Only after sending it did she realize her mistake.

Had she taken the bait?

But the message was already sent.

The reply arrived almost instantly.

As if it had been waiting.

[Rinne]: Good? Don’t even mention it! You’d know as soon as you see it in person! At first, I just heard about it and was skeptical, you know? But after using it to record cover songs with Ajung, it’s totally…

[Rinne]: Perhaps if your voice, Solar-nim, is recorded here, all the emotions you want to express will be captured even more richly and delicately than now, without leaving anything out!

‘All the emotions you want to express… without leaving anything out…’

That sentence wouldn’t leave her mind.

How many frustrations had she endured until now?

[Rinne]: Ah, was my tone too sales-pitchy? lolol If you feel burdened, you really don’t have to worry about it! (✯◡✯)

She said it wasn’t a sales pitch, but it was a more intense temptation than anything else.

And Yoon Sol was helplessly wavering before that temptation.

The possibility of surpassing the limits of her own voice.

That was so incredibly captivating.

‘Just once. Really, just this once… I’ll just take a look. As long as I don’t get swayed by it.’

She promised herself over and over, knowing it was a dangerous thought, but the thought grew uncontrollably.

The desperation that this might be her last chance was melting away her cold reason.

Yoon Sol bit her dry lips.

Finally, she squeezed her eyes shut, held her breath, and pressed the send button.

---

“Bossssss!”

The study door flew open as if it would break, and Jungyeon rushed in.

Her usual polite knock had long since been thrown out the window.

Her face was flushed red with excitement, and she was panting.

As if I had expected it, I nonchalantly looked up from the report I was reading and gazed at her.

“I did it! Solar-nim wants to visit our company! She wants to see the recording studio! We finally got a reaction, Boss!”

Her voice was almost a cheer.

It was a mixture of joy and relief that her efforts over the past few days had borne fruit.

As expected.

My calculations weren’t wrong.

I raised the corners of my mouth in satisfaction and said softly.

“Good job, Jungyeon. See? Wasn’t I right?”

“Boss, you’re the best!”

“Don’t schedule it too soon. Pick a date next week that’s comfortable for Solar.”

“Yes! I’ll do that!”

The third star was just now preparing to walk into my embrace of its own accord.