Chapter 49: A Super Rookie from the Start (Part 4)

A modern-style franchise cafe.

CEO Park Gitae stared at his condensation-covered glass, lost in thought. Manager Kim, sitting next to him, sipped his iced Americano and checked the time on his smartphone.

Five minutes until their appointment.

Finally finishing his coffee, Manager Kim placed the empty glass with its remaining ice on the tray and muttered, “Was this really necessary?”

“Hmm?”

CEO Park glanced at him.

“This meeting, I mean.”

“What about it?”

Manager Kim awkwardly tapped his straw.

“I mean, you arriving 30 minutes early. And canceling your entire schedule for today. This isn’t like you.”

He was right. CEO Park was known for his punctuality. He hated wasting time. Yet, here he was, killing time in a cafe for 30 minutes. And he had cleared his entire day.

This was highly unusual for him.

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

However, CEO Park simply tilted his head at the remark, as if he didn’t understand.

His reaction bewildered Manager Kim.

“I’m just doing what needs to be done.”

“…Do you consider Creator Sung Shihyun that important?”

“Important…”

Instead of answering, CEO Park wiped his glass with a tissue and took a sip of his coffee. After a moment, he said, “She’s not just important. She’s an opportunity.”

“An opportunity…?”

Manager Kim looked puzzled.

“Yes. An opportunity. A chance for Five Star to reach new heights.”

“…”

Was she really that significant?

Manager Kim was skeptical, but he quickly accepted it. He didn’t fully understand, but he trusted CEO Park’s judgment.

His instincts had never been wrong.

Just then…

Ding-dong!

The cafe door chimed. Both CEO Park and Manager Kim turned their heads towards the entrance.

And there she was.

“…Wow, holy…”

“…See? I told you. An opportunity.”

A goddess of beauty descended upon the mortal realm.

Shihyun, simply by entering the cafe, captured everyone’s attention as she looked around.

While Manager Kim still gaped, speechless, CEO Park adjusted his clothes and stood up. He strode towards Shihyun.

“Greetings.”

“Ah, are you…?”

Seeing the sparkle in Shihyun’s eyes, CEO Park flashed a bright smile.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Creator Sung Shihyun. I’m Park Gitae, CEO of Five Star Creative.”

Two men were waiting for Shihyun and Ji-eun.

A middle-aged man and a slightly younger one.

The middle-aged man was Park Gitae, the CEO of Five Star Creative. The other man introduced himself as Manager Kim Jaejoon.

“Shall we have dinner first?”

As promised during the call, CEO Park suggested dinner. It seemed like a good idea to talk over a meal, and Shihyun was hungry, so they agreed.

“How about Japanese food? I know a good omakase place.”

“…What’s omakase?”

“Sh-Shihyun?”

Despite this minor hiccup, they headed to a sushi restaurant.

“Here it is. It’s usually reservation-only, but I know the master chef, so it’s fine.”

Shihyun’s jaw dropped. A reservation-only sushi restaurant. She had never heard of such a thing.

The inside of the restaurant was even more surprising.

There were seats arranged like a bar, and beyond them, chefs were diligently preparing sushi. They could watch the food being prepared right in front of them.

‘Like those Chinese restaurants that show you them making the noodles.’

Shihyun thought to herself as she followed CEO Park to their seats. It seemed they were only here for the meal.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be seated at the bar when there were four-person tables available.

“Is this your first time having omakase?”

Shihyun nodded at CEO Park’s question. He smiled and explained something about the restaurant’s history, how the master chef trained in Tokyo, and so on.

She didn’t understand most of it.

‘Whatever.’

As long as it tasted good.

…Or so she thought, until the reservation-only sushi restaurant exceeded all her expectations. The only sushi she knew was shrimp and flounder, but dish after dish of unfamiliar sushi appeared before her!

The chef explained each piece, but Shihyun couldn’t understand a word.

She glanced at Ji-eun, who was busy taking pictures of the sushi. Her sparkling eyes and constant exclamations of delight indicated that this was a very special place.

The realization calmed Shihyun.

‘Focus.’

There had to be an ulterior motive behind this expensive, free meal. Of course there was. He wanted to sign her to his company.

‘It’s always like this. It was the same in ‘that world’.’

The most dangerous people were those who approached you with feigned kindness. No one offered favors without a reason. Shihyun had learned that lesson the hard way during her years in ‘that world’. After being betrayed so many times, it was impossible not to learn.

‘Regretting it after being tricked is too late.’

So, as she chewed on a piece of sea urchin sushi, Shihyun made up her mind.

No matter how tempting his offer, she wouldn’t be easily swayed. She wouldn’t be taken advantage of.

After the delicious meal, they moved to a cafe.

CEO Park got straight to the point.

“We’ll offer you a signing bonus of 100 million won.”

“Huh?”

Shihyun’s mind exploded with images of stacks of cash.

‘100 million?’

Ji-eun’s eyes widened at CEO Park’s declaration.

‘A 100 million won signing bonus?’

It was a jaw-dropping amount. More than enough for a rookie streamer.

‘This is…’

Even established streamers rarely received that much. Ji-eun herself, despite having a decent following, was only offered 25 million. Such a high offer was uncommon.

“Besides the signing bonus, we’re also offering a high revenue split. Higher than you might expect…”

CEO Park glanced at Ji-eun. She noticed the hesitation in his eyes.

‘Well, he is discussing contract terms right next to one of his own streamers.’

It was understandable that he felt awkward.

Ji-eun bit her lip.

It was preferential treatment. Shihyun’s revenue split would likely be better than hers. She couldn’t deny feeling a twinge of jealousy.

But…

‘It’s only natural.’

Ji-eun had already accepted it.

She hadn’t even planned to attend this meeting. It was obviously about contract negotiations, and she knew she would only feel awkward.

She was going to excuse herself.

If Shihyun hadn’t stopped her.

‘She asked for my advice because she’s new to the industry.’

Ji-eun glanced at Shihyun.

“…”

Shihyun was staring at CEO Park with a cold, impassive expression. Her eyes were like ice. Like an ice princess.

But having known Shihyun for a while, Ji-eun recognized that look as a blank stare. Like she was stunned. The 100 million won offer had clearly shocked her.

‘I knew this would happen.’

Most people would react the same way.

Ji-eun sighed inwardly.

Then, she took a deep breath.

She needed courage for what she was about to say.

Finally, Ji-eun spoke, “CEO Park, I’m here as Shihyun’s advisor, not as a Five Star streamer.”

“…Oh, is that so?”

“And I think…”

Ji-eun said calmly, “100 million won is too low, don’t you think?”

“…”

CEO Park’s eyes narrowed instantly.

Ji-eun flinched at his chilling gaze but steeled her nerves.

“Yes. It’s too low, considering Shihyun’s value.”

“…”

Ji-eun looked at Shihyun, who had recovered from her stunned state. Shihyun was looking back at her with trusting eyes.

Ji-eun spoke, “I think she deserves at least three times that.”

CEO Park’s face hardened.