Chapter 129: Outside. Sea Song (6)

Part 12

“I used to think femme fatale was something that couldn’t exist in the 21st century.”

“Hmm… I see.”

Lounging on a beach chair under a parasol’s shade, Yoonseo lazily waved her left hand. As if on cue, a neatly opened can of soda was placed in her grip. Satisfactory service, she thought smugly—until she brought the can to her lips.

“…Hey, StormCloud-ssi,” she said.

“Y-Yes?!” Sanghyun stammered.

“My throat’s dry, and you bring me soda? Are you sane? Trying to say this lousy Noona should choke and die?”

“N-No! I’ll get an electrolyte drink right away!”

“Make sure it’s nicely chilled.”

Glaring at Bonfire, who was giggling from the right while fanning himself, Yoonseo confirmed his stiffened shoulders resuming their quiet fanning before returning to her conversation with the doctor, feeling at ease.

“So, why bring this up with me?” she asked.

“…Because I just witnessed its possibility right before my eyes.”

“Haha, joking, right? I wouldn’t do anything that bad.”

“You seem aware of it.”

“No idea what you mean~”

Turning from the doctor’s wry expression, her gaze drifted to the small table beside her beach chair, specifically to the smartphone on its stand, where the stream’s chat was buzzing.

“What do you all think? I’m not bad at all, right?”

• Yooo, shiii… angry StormCloud…!
• Right, our StormCloud’s innocent.
• Do whatever you want, Noona!

At first, she’d dreaded the clips and screenshots, expecting a headache. But Sanghyun and Bonfire’s contrite attitudes, and the viewers’ tripled enthusiasm—despite her layering a cover-up over her swimsuit, leaving only its faint outline—changed her mind.

“…Hehe.”

“Don’t awaken to something weird now…” the doctor warned.

“No, just…”

The sticky sea breeze on her cheeks felt like a sweet seasoning to this strange omnipotence. Foolish humans, pledging loyalty and money to this beauty…

“Being pretty is nice, huh,” she chuckled.

“You’re evolving in a weird direction because of their antics. Fix it,” the doctor said.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll take a week off streaming, so behave.”

Bonfire, fanning with a dying expression, Sanghyun, sprinting back with a canned electrolyte drink, and the briefly frozen chat—no one agreed with the doctor.

Is this the thrill of dominance…?

Part 13

“For that reason, meet our frequent viewer and hospital doctor we’re indebted to, and our viewer and part-time job senior. Applause, everyone.”

“What kind of introduction is that?” the doctor said.

“Eh, isn’t Yoonseo-ssi basically full-time level?” Hyunji asked.

“They never offered a contract or anything. It’s always been ‘help out till the job’s done,’” Yoonseo replied.

• Lolololol.
• Why’s Unnie’s shocked face so cute lolol.
• Forget that, show us doctor oppa’s face!
• ?
• ?????
• ???
• What the heck…

“I said clap, not make weird noises,” Yoonseo huffed.

As expected, Sanghyun and Bonfire, who’d been streaming with their smartphones, had picked up nearby voices.

…Did I miss someone?

“…Anyway, seeing familiar names here feels odd. I briefly played doctor for Yoonseo-ssi. Nice to meet you all,” the doctor said.

• ? What’s that mean, doctor oppa?
• Why’re you familiar with our deadbeat nicknames?

“No reason not to watch when a near-regular patient does internet streams. I got hooked—it suits my taste,” the doctor explained.

Adjusting the phone’s angle to catch the doctor’s face—his height making it tricky—Yoonseo’s hand froze, her movements stiff with embarrassment.

“Ew, gross,” she said.

“What? You didn’t know I watch your streams?” the doctor asked.

“I knew, but hearing someone I know say they’re that into my silly, fluff-filled streams in person feels… unsettling.”

“Why ‘obsessed’?”

• Noona’s face lololol.
• Face ooooh.

No mirror needed—chat’s reactions told her her expression was something else. The doctor’s comically wide-eyed face stood out sharply under the parasol’s shade.

“But seriously! A decent-looking guy obsessively watching a cute college girl’s goofy streams? That’s bleak for Korea’s future…”

• ARGH, splash damage, stop!!
• No way a shut-in loser watching streams all day looks decent, so no splash damage?
• Oh.
• Oh lol for real.

“Are you thinking before speaking on stream?” the doctor asked.

Ignoring chat, the doctor’s serious tone—hinting at heavier topics—made Yoonseo clam up. A brief silence. But unspoken worries didn’t linger long.

Rising leisurely from the beach chair, she snatched the fan from Bonfire, who was either suppressing laughter or arm pain. With one hand on her hip, she struck a confident pose.

“No problem at all.”

“…Your confidence is unsettling. Why so sure?” the doctor asked.

Meeting his skeptical gaze, she grinned and declared, “Because I’m pissed off right now!”

Bonfire’s unrestrained laughter shook the air. Even the doctor, stunned, soon let out hollow heh heh heh chuckles, caught off guard.

“…Is this your image now?” he asked.

“Of course not. But…”

Glancing at Hyunji, who was twitching her lips, unsure whether to laugh, Yoonseo turned to the camera with a mischievous smile.

“Right now, I’m pissed!”

She couldn’t recall exactly, lost in the flow, but she kept that energy until the barbecue was ready. The 4Gang’s oddly polite demeanor—how should she take it…?

Part 14

“You look awfully uncomfortable, Sihyun-ssi,” Sanghyun said.

“Did I make you uneasy, little brother?”

Without turning, Sihyun’s calm demeanor suggested he’d sensed Sanghyun’s approach. Sanghyun’s lips, about to speak, closed silently.

The lively barbecue party unfolded noisily against the distant beach. Under a tree’s shade, better suited for a tropical isle, Sihyun’s somber expression clashed with the festive mood.

“N-No, not really,” Sanghyun stammered.

“Inviting guests and making them worry—I’m not cut out for hosting,” Sihyun said.

His chuckle was perfunctory. They weren’t close—just acquaintances—but Sanghyun felt he understood Sihyun through that laugh. Someone used to this. Suppressing emotions, thoughts, heart. Now, even he couldn’t hide his tangled mind.

“…My sister may be flawed, but she’s my sister,” Sanghyun said.

“Hm?”

Sihyun’s puzzled look met Sanghyun’s faint, bitter smile.

“Like it or not, she’s my sister. Yoonseo Noona.”

Their gazes locked briefly. The sea breeze carried summer’s heat, the beach’s crisp scent, and people’s laughter. Amid it, neither missed a certain girl’s laugh.

“…Heh.”

“…Uh?”

“Heh heh heh… Haha!” Sihyun burst into hearty laughter, ignoring Sanghyun’s confusion, continuing for a dozen seconds.

“Haha… Ha… Sorry, pfft, sorry,” Sihyun gasped.

“Did I make a funny face?”

“No, no, not at all. Just… it’s so Yoonseo.”

“Huh…?”

“I won’t steal her from you with money or power—don’t worry. I left my family to avoid that. And if Yoonseo hated me, I’d probably off myself, so it’d be pointless anyway.”

“Uh, wait?!”

“Siblings don’t always get along, but to be loved like this? Yoonseo’s something else. Gotta step up to be more than a friend.”

“No, hold on, you’ve got it wrong—”

Sihyun’s laughing steps moved from the shade toward the party’s chaos. Why be anxious? Why overthink? Liking someone was reason enough. No need to demand more or let jealousy complicate things. Be honest with the feeling, cherish it, and care for her. That’s enough.

“Little brother, need anything?”

“Huh? Well, my streaming PC’s been lagging—”

“I’ll have something delivered to Yoonseo’s place tomorrow. Use your current PC for streaming and the new one as your main.”

“…Huh?”