Hobbyist VTuber-Chapter 236

"You attended the press conference, didn’t you?"

"A press conference and a premiere are a bit different."

"What’s so different... about them? You’ll introduce the drama with me, do a simple event, and take some commemorative photos—that’s it...."

"But the people attending are different."

His voice, as always, was calm.

But the weight behind it was anything but light.

"Reporters at a press conference attend because it’s their job. But the people at the premiere? They’re different. They’re coming purely because they genuinely want to see us."

"If you’re saying you don’t feel like you deserve to see them... would I be able to understand that? Leaving the camera’s view was my choice, but still... it’s overwhelming. Even now."

The man speaking wore the same gentle expression as always, leaving Ha-eun with nothing to argue against.

No matter how sharp she was, she could never fully grasp the weight of what Kang Sun-woo carried.

The endless rumors that had surfaced during his ten-year absence.

The misunderstandings and falsehoods that had spread simply because he was an undisputed top actor.

All he had ever wanted was to take a break.

Just as he once told Ha-eun long ago, he had only wanted to travel, read the books he’d been putting off, and spend time as a person—not as an actor.

"Are you afraid you won’t meet people’s expectations?"

"To be honest... yeah, there’s some of that too."

The world had always judged him harshly as a top actor.

To step in front of people again probably took more courage than she could imagine.

Still, Ha-eun had no intention of giving up on convincing him.

After all, even he said he was still considering it.

For a while, she sat in silence, trying to understand his feelings.

At the same time, she searched for the right words to persuade him.

‘What should I say...?’

She thought, and thought, and thought.

—Clack.

"I’m going to make some coffee. Do you want anything, Ha-eun? I have cocoa too."

"Oh, then... can I have cocoa, please?"

As Kang Sun-woo disappeared into the kitchen, a memory surfaced—a hint from the past.

The hazy mirage of the press conference for Next-Door Uncle unfolded in her mind.

That day had been the first time she ever stood in front of the public.

And everywhere she looked, the crowd was filled with Kang Sun-woo’s fans.

Of course, she was just a child actor who had filmed nothing more than a vitamin supplement commercial—

Who would have been a fan of someone like that?

‘I wasn’t nervous just because I was too young to understand what was happening... that wasn’t all of it.’

There had been a decisive reason why she hadn’t felt nervous despite the massive audience of reporters and fans.

And now that she remembered it, she knew exactly what to say to persuade him.

Not long after, Kang Sun-woo returned from the kitchen, holding a cup of warm cocoa.

"It’s still hot, so be careful."

"...Thank you."

Taking a small sip of the sweet cocoa, Ha-eun steeled her resolve.

Then, cautiously, she spoke.

"Do you... remember the Next-Door Uncle press conference?"

She brought up the memory from long ago.

And after a brief pause, his response was affirmative.

"You were such a tiny kid back then. And now, look at you—you’ve grown so much. Time really flies."

"...It really does."

Confirming that he still remembered that day, Ha-eun continued.

She reminded him that ten years ago, she had been nothing more than a little kid.

A seven-year-old who wasn’t even in elementary school yet.

"That was the first time I realized just how famous you were."

"Oh? Really?"

"Yeah. Everywhere I looked, there were fans holding photo books of you."

"Hmm, I don’t remember that part. You have a crazy good memory, huh?"

‘...Honestly, my memory is too good—it’s a problem sometimes.’

Hearing him praise her memory, Ha-eun paused for a moment.

Her sharp recall was still a curse that remembered even things she wished she could forget.

But right now, there was something more important.

—Swoosh.

—Clack.

"Actually, I wasn’t nervous back then because you held my hand. Just like this."

As she spoke, she gently took his hand.

Whether it was for the premiere or for something else, there was something she needed to tell him.

"That was... the first time someone held my hand like that."

She didn’t mean that no one had ever touched her hand before.

Of course, when she was younger, Na-yeon and Seong-yoon had held her hands and played with her.

But as for someone grabbing her hand purely out of kindness,

Kang Sun-woo had been the first.

"If you hadn’t held my hand that day, I might have gotten so nervous that I messed up completely. Maybe even developed stage fright and quit acting forever."

"Oh, come on. No way."

"You never know."

She wanted to tell him—

Just like he had once held her hand back then, she wanted to hold his hand now.

"You said in an interview that I ‘dragged you back into the industry by the collar.’"

"T-that was just an interview. I exaggerated a little...."

"I meant it. I’ll take responsibility for dragging you back out here."

If it was too much pressure,

he could hide behind her.

If someone threw eggs at him,

she wouldn’t let a single one hit him.

"Wait—are you planning to make me look like a total jerk?"

"It’s just a figure of speech. Though, of course, if it really happens, I can totally dodge them."

So please, come with me.

Ha-eun smiled faintly as she spoke, tightening her grip on his hand.

Honestly, it hurt.

She had assumed she’d have to convince him with sheer force.

But there was one thing.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

"No matter what, you’re better off now than when you were seven. People still love you, you know."

Those final words were undeniable.

And so, once again, Ha-eun won.

"...How could I ever beat you?"

"Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded losing. If I failed, I could have just left it to the CEO."

"...The CEO?"

"Director Jeong. If I couldn’t convince you, I was planning to ask him for help. But luckily, I didn’t have to."

Ha-eun, completely unfazed, added that no matter what, even Sun-woo would have to listen to the CEO.

Since he was still under contract with Luna Entertainment, he didn’t technically have the right to refuse.

"Of course, if you were confident enough to convince even the CEO, that’d be a different story."

‘...When did this kid «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» get so terrifying?’

And so, Sun-woo’s attendance at the premiere became a done deal.

With her mission complete, Ha-eun left his apartment with a satisfied smile.

One Week Later

At long last, the premiere day of God and the Goblin arrived.

"Good evening. I’m Kang Sun-woo, returning as Baek Jin in God and the Goblin."

—KYAAAAAAAH!

—KANG SUN-WOO IS SO HANDSOME!!!

—CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!

—OPPA, YOU’RE SO GOOD-LOOKING!!

As he bowed toward the audience, Sun-woo realized Ha-eun had been right.

All his nervousness had been completely unnecessary.

Immediately after, Ha-eun’s voice came through the handheld mic.

"I’m Lee Ha-eun, playing Baeksulhwa."

Predictably, a second wave of cheers just as loud as before erupted.

Especially from one particular seat near the middle—where a petite woman in sunglasses and a mask was clapping so hard it looked like her hands might break.

‘Ha-eun’s really popular, huh?’

Standing beside her was Ha Yun-seong,

and beside him, Director Kwon Jae-hyeop and Writer Hong Soo-eun, who also finished their greetings.

"Now, we have so many people here at the God and the Goblin premiere tonight. It’d be a shame to send you all home empty-handed, right?"

Following the emcee’s cue, a small event began.

The lucky draw, a photo session with the selected winners, and gift distribution followed.

"I-I’m such a huge fan. I’m so happy you’re back."

"Thank you."

"Meeting you has been my dream. Oh my God, I’m shaking so much...."

"It’s okay. Honestly, I’m a little nervous too." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Despite ten years of absence, Sun-woo’s fans hadn’t changed at all.

And beside him, Ha-eun smiled knowingly.

"See? I told you they still love you."

"...They really are incredible people."

With the event wrapped up successfully,

Sun-woo, Ha-eun, and Yun-seong took their seats in the very front row.

In one minute, episode one of God and the Goblin would begin.

But first—both Sun-woo and Yun-seong had a question.

"Ha-eun." / "Ha-eun-ssi."

"Oh! Jinx."

"Uhm... Sunbae, you go first."

Somehow, they had spoken at the same time.

And due to seniority, Yun-seong had to wait his turn.

"That woman in sunglasses earlier—she seemed close to you. Do you know her?"

"Oh, I was going to ask the same thing."

With that, both men’s gazes turned to Ha-eun.

Now, with two pairs of eyes fixed on her, she felt a bit cornered.

Because...

‘A colleague? Or just a fan...?’

The woman who had collected all three of their autographs not long ago was Nael.

For some reason, she was concealing her face more than usual today.

As she hesitated, searching for the right explanation—

—Fwoosh.

The theater lights dimmed completely.

And in that very moment, Ha-eun spoke in a near whisper.

"She’s... someone who likes me. A lot.

She never misses an event I appear in."

"Ahh."

"No wonder she seemed familiar."

And with that, episode one of God and the Goblin began.

The opening sequence was soft, melancholic.

It focused on Baek Jin and Baeksulhwa’s relationship centuries ago.

"As the third month passes, the azaleas bloom, their beauty envied by all."

"As the fourth month ends, the nightingale returns. Yet, dear clerk, have you truly forgotten the past?"

Dressed in a pure white hanbok, Baeksulhwa recited a poem.

Beside her, Baek Jin sat in silence, listening intently.

At this moment, before tragedy entered their lives,

there was only peace—only poetry.

Perhaps because the teaser had already revealed Baeksulhwa’s fate,

the atmosphere on screen felt even more sorrowful.

Or maybe, it was just one of those rare cases.

—Sniff.

—Sniffle.

—...Hic.

Somewhere in the audience, someone was already crying.

Turning her head slightly, Ha-eun’s eyes landed on a very familiar face.

‘Why are you crying already...?’

Nael.

She was furiously dabbing her eyes with tissues.

Ha-eun froze.

Then, she worried.

Because the actual tearjerking scenes hadn’t even started yet.

And if Nael was already like this,

then in just a **few minutes, she’d be full-on sobbing.

‘...Is she going to be okay...?’

Watching Nael sniffle and wipe her tears,

Ha-eun suddenly had a lot on her mind.