Chapter 13: The day before planting (7)

Part 13

“…It’s pretty fun, in a normal way.”

“Right?! Isn’t it? Fun, yeah?”

“The visuals are a big part.”

“Yeah, this fantastical scenery—”

“Especially the waist-to-hip lines. They’re killer.”

“…Sis?”

“Told you it’s a weeb game.”

– LOLOLOLOL

– Cheungjeokun… your bro’s got no words left…

– Guilty! gavel bang

I smirked, raising just the corners of my mouth, and Sanghyeon’s eyes widened in shock.
He probably wanted me to focus on something else, but this was my honest take.
No need to fake it, and this got funnier reactions anyway.

“You were just saying it was good! The ice arrows freezing the lake to make platforms were cool! The snowy mountains were awesome! The combat was fun!”

“That’s one thing, this is another. Right, everyone?”

– Yeah, lol.

– Honestly… kinda crude, but…

“Hey, don’t say that stuff in front of her. She doesn’t know that lingo and might just get upset.”

Sensing something off in the chat, Sanghyeon, who’d been sulking, switched to a stern tone.
Crude? It sounded like they were about to get raunchy.

“…Anyway, the game’s fun. The controls are simple, and the gameplay’s solid. I don’t game much, so maybe it’s just me, but switching characters and the elemental reactions felt super fresh.”

– The skins are top-tier, but it doesn’t feel like a rip-off, fr.

– God-tier game, Sis, give it a try!

– Nice

– Fun’s all that matters.

The chat still had some bickering vibes, but I didn’t have much to add.
If it got out of hand, Sanghyeon would handle it.
Plus, he seemed satisfied that opinions were split evenly.
Considering his “Filter the weebs, it’s fun!!!” rants, he was clearly attached to this game.

“Ganyu was the best part.”

“You really like her, huh?”

“She’s pretty. And the bell sound’s nice.”

Tapping the keyboard, Ganyu in-game slowly walked in the input direction, her bell jingling—ding-ding.
The fluttering cloth, the full-body tights, the deeply cut back.
I couldn’t help but grin.
Whoever designed her was obsessed with this aesthetic, no doubt.

I’d thought the bell around her neck was just a fashion choice and found it a bit niche.
But when it jingled with her walking animation, I was impressed by the detail.
Isn’t it rare to sync design and sound so meticulously?
I spent like five minutes just walking her in circles, enjoying it.

“But you can’t get her anymore, right?”

– Just buy an account.

– Sis, start streaming and do Genshin multiplayer with viewer participation!

“…Spending money’s a bit much. I’m living like a freeloader—spending on games feels wrong to the family.”

We’re not poor, but we’re not swimming in cash either.
A few bucks wouldn’t hurt, but they say the first step’s the hardest, right?
I’ve never done it, so I don’t know my self-control.
Spending money to start felt risky.

As I said that, the viewers, mid-bicker, collectively expressed pity.
Their goal seemed to be getting me to stream, whether I played the game or not.

“I’m not doing it. Haa…”

A yawn slipped out as I lazily read the chat.
Checking my phone, it was just past 11 p.m.
Had I been here for about two hours?

“Sleepy?”

“…I’ve been trying to sleep early lately. Guess I’m tired.”

“That’s gonna be rough when school starts.”

“Maybe I should plan my schedule to avoid all-nighters for assignments…”

Blinking slowly, Sanghyeon spoke up casually.
As I answered, a donation’s signature ching sounded through the speakers.
50,000 won? Are streams only for rich people?

– Say “Wanna do overtime with me?”

“…Oh, right. That.”

The chat’s obsession with “overtime” when I picked Ganyu sparked my curiosity, and I’d looked it up.
In the dreamy character intro video, amid the voice actor’s poetic lines, the final line—“Wanna do overtime with me?”—hit like a truck.
So mundane, so impactful.

“…Honestly, I don’t think my voice sounds that similar.”

– Nah, it’s spot-on.

– Do it! Do it! Do it!

– If my ears are happy, isn’t that enough?

“…Thanks for the 50,000-won donation, VoiceMimicLad nim. Ahem… uh…”

My voice is pretty high, even to me.
Their “it’s the same” reactions probably came from my flat tone, not the voice itself, giving a similar vibe.
Mimicking it raw wouldn’t feel close at all.

Recalling the feeling when they first said it was similar, I deliberately lowered my tone.
Dropping it bit by bit, humming to find a close pitch.
Good thing I didn’t need to go so low it felt awkward.

“Ah. Aah. Is this tone close?”

I glanced at Sanghyeon, speaking in the adjusted tone.
He just stared at me, eyes wide, no response.
What? Was it that off?

“…Not even close? I put effort into it this time.”

“Sis, can you say it formally just once?”

“Huh?”

Formal? Like, match the tone and the speech style?

“…Like this, you mean?”

“Ganyu Sis…”

– GANYU SIS!!!!!!

Sanghyeon suddenly looked moved, eyes downcast, practically ascending.
What? This wasn’t the reaction I expected.
…So it was similar?

“…Then, would you like to…”

The chat’s heated reaction got me hyped too.
I’d planned to mimic the video’s tone exactly, but I switched it up, dragging out the end for effect.
A beauty and you, working late together—a simple lucky scenario.
Adding a touch of suggestive fantasy from my mind…

“…stay late with me? …Pfft.”

I tried for a sultry tone but cracked, laughing at myself.
I was going for a vibe, but still.
Sanghyeon’s audible swallow, eyes closed, and the slowed chat were too much.
What am I supposed to do with this?

– SISSSS!!!!!!

– One more scoff, Sis!!

– Mommy… Ganyu Mommy… stay late with me…

“I’m clocking out. Never even clocked in, though.”

Returning to my normal tone, I grinned at the chat chanting Ganyu’s name.
No matter how much they beg, that virtual girl won’t come to them.

– Sis’s voice is perfect. You’d be a real-life Ganyu in cosplay.

– For real. No plans for Busan or Seoul Comic-Con?

“…I love Ganyu, but looking’s one thing, wearing that is another.”

“The midriff’s a bit much, don’t you think, guys?”

“You never hold back, do you?”

I playfully elbowed Sanghyeon’s side, and he let out a weird “Kuek!” groan.
The chat flooded with “lol” as I glanced between it and Sanghyeon, curled up clutching his side.

“Anyway, I’m off to bed. Don’t stay up working late—sleep early, wake early.”

Man, today was fun too.