I Became a Member of My Favorite Group! - Chapter 16

After sending the members to the café, Kang Ha-neul fell into deep thought.

There wasn’t much to do at the moment.

She had only stayed behind to discuss something privately with the manager.

“So-eun.”

“Yes, boss.”

“No, it’s just the two of us now, so relax.”

When Yoon So-eun responded to her call, Kang Ha-neul shook her head.

The two of them weren’t strangers.

They had been acquaintances for quite some time, and when Kang Ha-neul needed a manager for Blue LUV, she brought So-eun into the company.

Among the people Kang Ha-neul had observed, So-eun stood out for her sense of responsibility.

At the same time, she was also an excellent judge of character, making her the perfect person to take care of the treasure chest.

Her ability to discern right from wrong also played a role.

“…Okay, unnie.”

Satisfied with the return to the familiar term, Kang Ha-neul nodded and brought up the topic.

“Actually, there’s something I want to discuss. It’s about Da-jeong…”

“Da-jeong?”

Yoon So-eun looked puzzled at the serious tone.

Had Da-jeong gotten into some kind of trouble?

She didn’t seem like the type.

“Since you’ll be handling managerial duties, you need to know a bit about the members’ situations.”

“Right.”

“So, here’s the thing. Da-jeong’s family situation is a bit… special.”

“Family situation…?”

The sudden mention of such a heavy topic left Yoon So-eun blinking in surprise.

Kang Ha-neul took a sip of water and nodded.

“Actually, Da-jeong grew up without parents.”

“Oh…”

“Of course, she’s so kind and well-mannered that you wouldn’t notice, but her situation is definitely tough.”

Kang Ha-neul spun her cup absentmindedly, searching for the right words.

Talking about someone else’s circumstances wasn’t something to be done lightly, and it wasn’t an easy topic.

“Recently, I heard from the others that her house has cockroaches and even rats.”

“R-rats…?”

Is she living in some kind of shack?

Even in the countryside, that would be surprising, but in the middle of Seoul?

The shocking news made Yoon So-eun lose control of her expression.

“So, I was thinking… maybe we could give Da-jeong a bit more in her contract.”

“The contract… Ah, now that you mention it, the contracts haven’t been signed yet, right?”

“Yeah, I wanted to prioritize the members’ opinions first. I was waiting in case anyone changed their mind.”

In fact, the main reason she had called them in today wasn’t for the practice broadcast but for the contracts.

The contract fee isn’t huge, but it’s still a nominal amount.

In this industry, companies with shaky foundations often don’t offer contract fees, but Kang Ha-neul isn’t one of those.

She’s one of the top female streamers in South Korea for a reason.

For her, securing the members’ loyalty with a modest contract fee is more important.

However, the issue she’s grappling with is how to handle Da-jeong’s situation.

Given that Da-jeong’s financial situation seems tight, Kang Ha-neul wondered if she could give her a bit more under the guise of the contract fee.

But of course, this could lead to problems.

“I don’t think Da-jeong would do anything like that, but if it came out, wouldn’t it cause issues with fairness?”

The issue of fairness.

“That’s what I’m worried about. That’s why I’m asking. What do you think?”

“If I may ask, how much were you thinking for the contract fee?”

“Hmm… around this much. For Da-jeong, I was considering doubling it.”

“That’s a bit tricky…”

The contract fee isn’t exactly huge.

But it’s not insignificant either.

In fact, it’s quite generous.

In the VTuber industry, corporate VTubers are often at a significant disadvantage compared to individual ones.

But the benefits of corporate support and promotional advantages make it a popular choice.

Given these advantages, the members would likely accept this amount without question.

However, if Da-jeong’s fee were doubled, how would the others react?

People are sensitive to perceived inequality.

Especially when it comes to money.

“Can I be honest with my opinion?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“If you’re going to proceed like this, you should at least get the members’ agreement beforehand. If that’s not possible, it might be better to help Da-jeong in another way.”

A fair point.

But it also made Kang Ha-neul think.

The only thing that bothered her was…

“That’s fine, but if the others refuse, wouldn’t it risk damaging my relationship with Da-jeong? They might think I’m secretly favoring her behind their backs.”

“That’s a valid concern.”

“Exactly.”

Yoon So-eun rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.

That was a good point.

If Kang Ha-neul didn’t bring it up at all, it might be fine.

But once she mentioned it, the other members might start wondering about the possibility.

“Is there another way to help Da-jeong?”

“I can’t think of anything. I thought about renting her a place, but… she seems to think accepting help is a huge burden. She even hesitated when I offered to cover her taxi fare.”

“That’s tough.”

So that’s why she’s considering this option.

Yoon So-eun nodded in understanding.

If it’s under the guise of a contract fee, she could just say, “This is the standard amount,” and give it to her.

Of course, if misused, it could make her look like a tyrant boss, but Kang Ha-neul’s intentions are the opposite.

It’s a viable option.

“I’m sorry. It’s hard for me to give a clear answer.”

“Sigh… It’s fine. I’ll think about it. I have to act like a boss now, after all.”

Kang Ha-neul sighed and slumped back in her chair, scratching her head.

She needed to figure this out before the members returned.

If all else failed, she’d have to find another way to help Da-jeong.

＊＊＊＊＊

The time at the café was amazing.

We drank sweet beverages, chatted endlessly with the members.

Even though I stayed quiet to avoid interrupting.

The members occasionally included me in the conversation, so I was satisfied.

When we returned to the company, an employee showed me around.

I hadn’t gotten to explore much during my first two visits.

The other members didn’t seem interested, so I was the only one who went.

“…Huh?”

When we returned to the meeting room, it was empty.

Where did everyone go?

Should I look for them?

Thud—

As I was pondering, the door opened, and someone entered.

It was the manager.

“Ah, Da-jeong. Did you enjoy the tour?”

“Yes. But Manager, do you know where the others went?”

“They’re having one-on-one meetings with the boss to discuss the contracts. I came to call you for your turn.”

“Ah, I see…”

That’s right.

Now that I think about it, I hadn’t signed the contract yet.

I almost completely forgot about it.

“Come this way. Yuna should be out soon.”

“Okay.”

Following the manager, I stopped in front of a door labeled “Boss’s Office.”

I was waiting for Yuna to come out when, as if on cue, the door opened.

“Ah, Da-jeong! You’re back already?”

“Yeah. Did your talk with the boss go well?”

“It went great. The boss said to let you in if you were outside.”

“Got it, I’ll go in… huh?”

I cautiously tried to enter the boss’s office, but Yuna suddenly held out her hand.

What does she want?

---

I tilted my head and stared blankly at Yuna’s hand.

She must’ve found my cluelessness frustrating because she grinned, grabbed my hand, and lifted it up…

“Before you go, here!”

Clap—

She high-fived me with a loud smack.

It felt a bit random, but Yuna’s energy is always high, so I just went with it.

Honestly, it made me feel good too.

“Hehe, I’ll be back.”

“Okay.”

Feeling a boost of energy, I confidently entered the boss’s office.

The boss, leaning back in a black chair, gestured for me to come in as soon as she saw me.

“So, Da-jeong. Did you enjoy the café?”

Her warm welcome, like a mix of an older sister and a mom, made me smile.

I scurried over to the sofa like a kid back from school and started recounting my café adventure.

---

“Yes! Jia unnie even bought me a… frappu-something.”

“Ah, a frappuccino? Was it good? What kind did you have?”

“It had caramel in it. There was cream on top and chocolate chips too…”

“Oh, you had a proper one. Next time, try the chocolate version. I think you’d love it.”

“Wow, really?”

The one I had was already delicious.

But there’s an even tastier drink out there?

Cafés are amazing places.

Well, that’s probably why they charge such outrageous prices.

---

While I was lost in thought, the boss came over and sat down on the sofa, offering me a seat.

Honestly, she usually feels like a kind older sister, but in the boss’s office, her authority really stood out.

“You heard from the manager, right? We’re signing the contract today.”

“Yes, I heard.”

I’m a bit nervous because I’ve never signed a contract before, even during my part-time jobs.

The bosses back then always said, “We’ll just trust each other and go from there.”

“First, let’s talk about the contract fee. Do you know what a contract fee is?”

“Come on, I’m not a fool. I know what it is.”

“R-right. Of course, Da-jeong isn’t a fool.”

Exactly, exactly.

The boss is underestimating me.

I’m not a kid, you know.

“Ahem. Anyway, once the contract is finalized, a contract fee will be paid.”

“Huh? So I’ll get money even before debuting? But I haven’t done anything yet…”

I thought she’d say there’s no such thing, but I was shocked to hear I’d be paid even before debuting.

Is the VTuber industry really this generous?

“Yep, that’s right. It’s not a huge amount, but it should help with your living expenses.”

“Of course. Even 10,000 won could last me a week, or even ten days.”

For someone like me, who was planning to work part-time until debut, this is incredibly generous.

Plus, this is a contract fee for debuting as a VTuber, so I don’t have to feel like I’m burdening the boss.

“Well, um… yeah. Anyway, the contract fee will be paid, so let’s go over the contract together, okay?”

“Yes!”

I guess I’m a bit of a materialist.

My voice got louder the moment money was mentioned.

Ugh, the boss definitely noticed.

What if she thinks I’m a money-grubber… or worse, a gold digger?

Feeling embarrassed, I carefully reviewed the contract with the boss.

Following her finger as it moved down the page, I saw the section about the contract fee.

Ignoring the long text, I focused on the amount… huh?

Wait, how many zeros is that?

One, two, three, four, five… six?

“…Um, boss. Did I read this wrong?”

Thinking I might’ve misread, I decided to ask.

If the contract fee is written incorrectly, that could be a problem.

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

“The amount… it seems a bit off.”

“No, it’s correct. Is it less than you expected?”

“N-no, it’s not less. It’s way too much.”

Yeah, it’s a lot.

Way too much.

The amount written on the contract was a staggering 5 million won.

That’s more than the inheritance my parents left me.

The astronomical number left me wide-eyed and speechless.

Wait, am I dreaming?