Chapter 63
The chicken arrived, and the real drinking broadcast began.
As we shared stories about each other and clinked glasses, the tipsiness crept up on us before we knew it.
Thanks to that, the previously awkward tension around Curry suddenly lifted.
“So there was this time when the president was just standing there at the entrance, and I was totally brain-dead. Hah…”
“What was your first impression? That was the first time we met in person, right?”
Before long, Curry, completely drunk, chuckled softly and stood up.
“There’s something essential for this QA time! Just a moment…”
Curry shuffled to the corner and rummaged through a drawer.
“I’m sure it’s here somewhere…” I could hear the mumbling.
Before long, Curry returned with a familiar object in hand.
“I can’t believe I’m going to use this again.”
“That’s the lie detector we bought last time, right?”
“Yep. This damn machine that just piles up my embarrassing past…”
I had no clue why they brought it if they didn’t like it. Curry placed the lie detector on the desk, pressed a button, and then placed a hand on it, speaking softly.
“My first impression of Barcode was… honestly kind of scary.”
Ding!
A chime sounded, and seeing Curry’s unchanged expression meant that was the truth.
I did wonder if the lie detector was truly reliable, but right now, what mattered was that my first impression was deemed ‘scary.’
“Was I scary? Why?”
“Well… how should I put it… um… the vibe? You have this unique presence that’s really intimidating.”
[What are they saying, lol]
[That unique vibe, right? Haha]
[This person is really drunk]
[Sorry for my drunk friend, everyone]
[Please take care of them with love… they’re nice…]
[How is someone like her openly hitting on you scary? What the hell]
[Curry, stop being a wuss]
I thought I had done well, but being labeled scary threw me off.
I could understand it logically, but couldn’t resonate with it emotionally.
“Huh… I see. So you thought of me as ‘that’ type…”
“Ahhhh, what about my first impression, Barcode? I think I’m kind of good-looking.”
Curry abruptly interrupted to ask about their own first impression.
It was obviously a fishing attempt, but since I wanted to enjoy the moment longer, I decided to let it slide.
I pondered how to respond when I placed my hand on the lie detector and spoke up.
“When I actually met you, Curry, you felt like a pure troublemaker? The drunk version of you was kind of cute.”
Ding!
Saying my genuine thoughts, the lie detector confirmed my truth.
Could it be that this thing actually does discern the truth well?
Just then, Curry covered their face with both hands and bowed their head.
“Hah… when you say it like that, Barcode…”
“Huh?”
Is there a problem?
Why are they looking so down?
I was puzzled and shifted my gaze to the monitor.
As soon as the chat room came into view, my questions were answered.
[Get together already.]
[So sweet, lol]
[Isn’t this basically approval?]
[I hope all couple shippers die, ugh…]
[Whoa, haha]
[Our cunning little fox, give back our pure Curry]
[Let’s apologize with a true ending, ok?]
[Is this sweet even before the couple content begins? LOL]
[Please take responsibility for Curry for life, Barcode]
My earlier comment set off a storm in the chat box.
Keywords like ‘relationship’ and ‘true ending’ stood out in the frenzy among viewers.
It was a strange feeling knowing that just because I said they were cute, it led to this chaos.
I was merely a fan who liked the streamer Curry, not the real-world Park Kwon-tae.
After all, I was a guy before and became a fan because Curry was entertaining.
“Hehe…”
As I continued my train of thought, a small laugh escaped me.
I had vowed not to dwell on the past once I became a woman, yet here I was, complicating my thoughts.
I should just keep it simple.
For whatever reason, I became a woman, and I was no longer a man.
If I couldn’t accept this fact, I’d end up losing something important—a man who can’t even face the reality.
It was far better to accept myself as a woman than be treated like a physical eunuch.
In truth, I didn’t mind doing a ‘couple’ content with Curry at all.
Just looking at Curry, who was slumped next to me, brought me joy.
Of course, that doesn’t mean I had any intentions of engaging in a ‘true ending’ scenario with Curry.
It wasn’t that it was Curry that I didn’t want; I just wasn’t interested in romance in general.
Finishing my self-reflection, I stared at the still-sunken Curry.
It was time for them to lift their head, so why weren’t they?
Upon closer inspection, I noticed they were nodding off.
“Curry, are you drunk?”
“Nooo! I’m not drunk yet.”
When I placed my hand on their shoulder and shook them, they reacted vigorously.
Their cheeks were already flushed red, clearly a sign of drunkenness.
“You’re drunk.”
“Uh… I’m really not drunk.”
“Yeah, you are.”
Curry was so tipsy I started to doubt whether they could keep the broadcast going.
Like it or not, the stream had to stay live as long as the king of drinking was drinking.
“Well… I feel a little drunk? My head’s spinning…”
“Yep, Curry, you’re drunk.”
[Are they going to sleep together?]
[Are you asking if you’re going to sleep? Haha]
[Our Curry is going to be eaten!]
[Is it a late-night Curry-eating broadcast?]
[Oh wow, oh wow]
Curry had not completely lost their wits yet, as they keenly observed the chat messages flowing in.
“What kind of Curry-eating nonsense is this, you bastard! Managers, get rid of anyone crossing the line…”
With all their energy running out, Curry forced out their words and collapsed onto the desk.
I barely managed to pull back the keyboard just before they fell, letting out a small sigh.
“Curry, get up and lie down on the bed.”
“Yesss…”
As I helped Curry to stand, I led them to the bed right behind us.
Having successfully laid Curry down, they seemed unable to stay awake any longer and closed their eyes.
Breathing easy and comfortably, Curry fell asleep, and I turned back to my spot.
“With Curry out cold, I guess the drinking broadcast has to end here.”
As I delivered the closing remarks in Curry’s place, chat flooded with disappointed messages.
I’d love to continue, but with the owner of the stream passed out, there was no choice.
After tidying up a bit, I moved my chair so the viewers could see the sleeping Curry better.
[What thoughtful consideration!]
[Heh, what a considerate lady…]
[Is this love?]
[A woman who stole the hearts of tens of thousands, wow.]
[Curry’s sleep stream has 40,000 viewers? For real?]
[I came to see Barcode, not for Curry, haha.]
[So true, lol]
“I’ll be off to sleep as well. See you all tomorrow.”
Having safely wrapped up the first day of the collab, I moved to the guest room.
*
In the early dawn, when everyone was asleep.
There was nothing to see except the soundly sleeping Curry.
Only the ‘real’ fans remained on the stream, chatting away with each other.
Just like back in Yellow City.
Long-time viewers felt nostalgia for their hometown, and stories bloomed amongst them.
Naturally, the topics revolved around nostalgic memories from the Yellow City days.
[Season 3 was the OG, for real]
[What are you talking about? Season 4 was the real original]
[Do you even know Curry from that time?]
[Whoa, the chat smells like nostalgia]
[Huh? Is it just me or can you hear something?]
[I can only hear Curry’s breathing]
[Isn’t that a footstep sound?]
Some viewers, peacefully chatting, started to sense a change in the broadcast.
Faint but distinct noises were caught on the microphone, and viewers speculated it was someone’s footsteps.
Squeek-
Thud thud-
As the door creaked open, someone walked into the room.
Viewers pondered if it was a thief or something, but as the owner of the footsteps joined the cam screen, everyone typed “hook.”
“Shh…”
Seeing the flood of hooks, I lifted my index finger to my lips.
After all, since it was the chat, this action could be meaningless.
Yet, I could potentially wake Curry with a donation if I wasn’t careful.
Walking quietly to avoid making noise, I opened the desk drawer.
I took out the previously scouted gel pen, closed the drawer again, and wore a faint smile.
I thought it would be fun to draw on Curry’s face, like everyone has done at least once in childhood.
Thanks to the monitor light, I could see Curry’s face in the otherwise dark room, and somehow, the doodled Curry appeared endearing.
Many viewers were curious about how Curry looked with the doodles, but unfortunately, I couldn’t show that.
Successfully finishing my doodling, I exited the room.
I merely planned to amuse myself for a bit in the restless dawn.
For the fun now, I tucked away that joy for morning and smiled contentedly as I returned to bed.
*
“Grrr…”
Curry woke up with a cracked groan.
“Water…”
Their throat felt like it was coded with alcohol.
Curry wanted to get rid of this feeling immediately and got up.
Looking around, they found no water or drink anywhere.
The only remnants of the previous drinking broadcast were faintly visible.
‘Hold on, the drinking broadcast?’
Realizing late that the stream was still live, Curry sat in front of the computer.
[Hahahaha]
[Hahahaha]
[Ah, haha]
[Everyone caught on]
[Curry looks cute today lol]
[Is that a dog or a cat vibe?]
[Hahahaha]
“What’s going on? Why are you all laughing?”
Confused by the chat room flooded with laughter, Curry switched the broadcast screen to a waiting screen.
“Guys, I’ll just grab some water and wash up. Be right back.”
Turning on some music, Curry stood up and left the room.
Wanting to wash away the suffocating alcohol in their stomach, they hurried to the refrigerator and filled their glass.
Feeling the need to relieve themselves, Curry headed for the bathroom.
Though the bathroom door was closed, they paid it no mind and swung it open.
Swash-
As Curry opened the door, billowing steam poured out.
Then came the sound of the shower, and through the white mist, a silhouette appeared.
“Huh?”
“Uh, um?”
The silhouette turned to look at Curry, and in a moment of brain freeze, Curry made a silly sound.
A brief silence followed as Curry finally snapped back to reality and shut the door hurriedly.
“…”
Even though Curry closed the door quickly, it was already far too late.
Standing in front of the bathroom door, they contemplated the blunder they just made.
Barcode was inside, taking a shower.
Curry had just barged in and saw Barcode showering.
Though it was only a silhouette, that hardly mattered.
Curry had practically committed a major faux pas by peeping at the president showering!
If Barcode finished showering and went to the mic to say, “Curry just peeped at me showering,” it would be the end of me.
“Oh man…”
Should I just end it all right here?
Curry seriously began to contemplate.