Chapter 35
Han Goyo. Pro gamer handle: Goyo.
It was pure coincidence that Kang Byeokrin found out about Goyo.
She’d never had any interest in gaming or pro gamers to begin with.
But one day, Goyo’s match videos started showing up on her M-Tube algorithm.
She ignored them, of course. She hit "not interested" over and over — but the videos kept appearing in her feed like some kind of glitch.
She was in the middle of marking one as uninterested yet again when, without meaning to, she found herself staring at the thumbnail.
After seeing it so many times, his face had become familiar.
He is good-looking, though.
Why was he playing games instead of becoming an idol or an actor? She couldn’t understand it. If he’d been a celebrity or a model, she’d have considered him for a subsidiary ambassador.
Isn’t he short?
If he was this good-looking and hadn’t become a celebrity, that had to be the only reason.
Kang Byeokrin played the video for the first time.
What the — why won’t it show me his face?
Multiple people were moving around these tiny character things playing a game, but the video only showed the game screen — no people.
Her competitive streak kicked in. She started skipping through the video in ten-second intervals, searching for the part where the person she wanted to see would actually appear.
As she skipped, a voice that sounded like a commentator kept calling out the same name.
"Goyo! Goyo! GOYOOOO! Unbelievable! Player Goyo has no intention of losing! He simply cannot be defeated!"
"Ah, it’s always the underage players that are the scariest, isn’t it? Their reflexes are the sharpest. And — right as I say that — Player Goyo, wow, WHOOOOA! Goyo takes down his opponent once again! Absolutely dominant!"
Other names came up too, but "Goyo" was the overwhelming majority.
So this Goyo guy wasn’t just good-looking — he was actually skilled.
She patiently skipped through the thirty-minute-long video in ten-second bursts, but the Goyo she wanted to see never properly appeared.
His face showed up occasionally during the match, but only in a tiny, low-quality box in the corner of the screen.
And even that was frustratingly brief.
Kang Byeokrin kept hammering the skip button. She finally got a proper look at Goyo after the match ended.
His face was expressionless — no, cold. The corners of his eyes tilted up, giving him a rather sharp look.
But the moment victory was confirmed —
The corners of Goyo’s mouth curled up as he took off his headset. His face, which had been utterly indifferent the entire time, broke into a wide smile.
Kang Byeokrin stared blankly at the screen.
For a moment, she thought — he kind of sparkles.
And by the time she came to her senses, she was searching up every single video of his.
He’s 181cm? That’s pretty tall. He hasn’t been a pro for long, and he turns adult next year... He’s younger than me.
Mid? Mid-laner...? I have no idea what that means, but Goyo seems to be the best at it. He wins every match, doesn’t he? His name gets called the most too.
She stayed up the entire night, binge-watching every Goyo video she could scrape together.
The next morning, Kang Byeokrin admitted it, her eyes bloodshot like a rabbit’s.
She had developed a tremendous interest in this young pro gamer.
It was the first and last time in her life that she became someone’s fan.
While Goyo was active, Kang Byeokrin was happy.
At first, she got into him for his looks. But later, she fell for his matches.
She couldn’t show her favor publicly — her secretaries coached her that it didn’t fit the image of a chaebol heiress — but she genuinely loved Goyo as a player.
But it was only one year.
The time Kang Byeokrin got to see Goyo.
"Haah..."
Coming out of her memories, Kang Byeokrin let out a quiet sigh.
His last match was still vivid in her mind, like it had been yesterday.
She’d been worried sick every day since hearing he’d suddenly disappeared recently — she never expected to run into him like this.
Is his body okay?
She’d been so startled earlier that she’d run away, so she hadn’t gotten a good look at him.
Her heart was still pounding. She took a deep breath in and out through her mouth.
If she approached a player who’d retired due to injury as a fan, it would only burden him.
Besides, the fact that she liked a pro gamer was supposed to be a secret from the public.
Just act natural. Like I don’t know him. Natural!
Kang Byeokrin hugged Goyo’s twenty-five-centimeter character plushie and reminded herself several times.
Then she ran to her dressing room, tore it apart, and changed into clothes that looked effortless but weren’t.
With a solemn resolve, she went down to the reception room where Goyo would be waiting.
And her "acting natural" failed spectacularly.
Guided by Director Woo, I stepped into the mansion and looked around with fascination.
It’s really huge.
The garden was massive too. So this was what rich people’s houses looked like.
The interior was elegant and refined, as if announcing the owner’s taste.
But I couldn’t exactly relax and enjoy the tour.
Because Director Woo was standing nearby, ramrod straight.
They keep staring at me.
As the executive director of Cheon-gang’s household, they’d definitely know about TRA. Even if they didn’t know Samra was an android, they’d know he held an important position. But they showed no interest in Samra at all — they only watched me.
Every time our eyes met, Director Woo gave me a polite business smile, but there was something chilling about it.
I glanced at my watch. Five minutes before the appointed time.
"The Chairman will arrive on the dot."
Director Woo spoke with a subtle smile.
"Thank you."
I gave a quick thanks, and Director Woo’s smile deepened.
Which somehow made them look even more displeased...
I didn’t know why, but I felt like I needed to finish my business here and leave as soon as possible.
CRASH!
A loud noise came from upstairs.
Director Woo rushed toward the stairs, and I shot up from my seat.
Kang Byeokrin limped down the stairs, supported by Director Woo.
"Are you alright?"
I hurried over to ask, and Kang Byeokrin’s face turned bright red.
I realized my mistake and stepped back slightly. She must be embarrassed about falling — maybe I’d acted too familiar.
But Kang Byeokrin immediately blurted out,
"I’m fine!"
Her voice cracked. Kang Byeokrin’s face flushed all the way down to her nape, and Director Woo was now openly glaring at me.
I don’t know what I did, but I’m sorry.
I was apologizing internally when Kang Byeokrin asked a strange question.
"Are you... okay?"
I hesitated for a moment, not understanding the intent behind her question, but then the host of today’s appointment entered the reception room.
"Samra!"
A booming voice filled the high-ceilinged house.
A woman with voluminous medium-length hair strode in. She looked like a middle-aged woman despite being well past sixty.
Chairman Cheon-gang of Cheon-gang Group — Kang Cheonseo — approached Samra with wide strides and extended her hand.
"Been well?"
"I have been well."
Samra shook her hand and replied politely.
"Haha, still with the military?"
"I plan to remain so."
"What a shame. If you ever quit, give me a call, alright? I’m first in line."
"You are not first in line, Chairman Kang Cheonseo."
"Come on, we’re close. Let me cut in."
"That is a subjective judgment, Chairman Kang Cheonseo."
Despite the seemingly rude response, Kang Cheonseo laughed heartily.
Then she turned her gaze to me.
"I was wondering why our precious Samra would venture outside."
Kang Cheonseo’s eyes were sharp, the contrast between iris and white vivid.
She extended her hand to me.
"Turns out it was because of Goyo. I was quite surprised. Nice to meet you. I should have greeted you when you were still a player, but I’m only seeing you now after your retirement."
I froze at the unexpected words. Kang Cheonseo gave a gentle smile.
"We were a sponsor, remember? I got into that because of Goyo."
"...Thank you."
I barely managed to move my lips and bowed belatedly.
"I never imagined you would remember me. Please forgive my late greeting. It is an honor to meet you, Chairman."
"Honor, my foot. I’m the one honored to meet Goyo."
She waved her hand lightly a couple of times, then let go and shot a glance at Kang Byeokrin.
"Rin. Go upstairs and get treated first."
"Grandmother...!"
Kang Byeokrin called out to Kang Cheonseo in the most aggrieved voice in the world.
But Kang Cheonseo cut her off coldly.
"Kang Byeokrin."
Kang Byeokrin’s face crumpled, but in the end, she headed for the elevator with Director Woo’s support.
After confirming Kang Byeokrin was gone, Kang Cheonseo elegantly shook her head.
"I failed to educate my granddaughter properly. The girl’s a wild colt, I tell you."
The Chairman looked at me steadily and asked,
"Goyo, you can understand, can’t you?"
I gave a gentle smile and replied.
"I saw nothing."
Kang Cheonseo laughed out loud and said cheerfully,
"Shall we go eat? Goyo must be hungry."
I felt like I was being treated a bit like a child.
But considering Kang Cheonseo’s age, it wasn’t strange to receive that kind of treatment.
Honestly, if I could just get the Good-Looking item, I could handle being treated like a child — or even like an animal.
I debated which would damage TRA’s honor more — crawling on all fours or barking — as I followed Kang Cheonseo to the dining room.
Silent-moving staff were already setting warm food on the marble table.
Kang Cheonseo seated me and Samra, recommended various dishes, and led the conversation.
Unexpectedly, the Chairman had a way with words that put people at ease — which only made me more nervous.
I kept my mind razor-sharp so I wouldn’t get swept up in her skilled business rhetoric and let something slip.
It wasn’t until after the meal, when dessert arrived, that we got to the main topic.
Kang Cheonseo dismissed everyone around us and opened her mouth meaningfully.
"So, Goyo. What favor did you want to ask that made you seek me out?"
I was eating the persimmon sorbet in its ceramic bowl, but I stopped and immediately put down my spoon.
"Hm? Why’d you put it down? Eat while we talk."
"Yes, thank you."
Still, I didn’t pick it up again. I waited for the Chairman to continue.
Kang Cheonseo’s eyes crinkled deeply.
"It must be a huge favor, right? Samra coming outside, helping someone — that’s never happened before."
Given her personality, she’d hate it if I beat around the bush. I stated my request directly.
"I would like to request the support of the Good-Looking item in your possession, Chairman, in order to clear the Trial."
"Hmm..."
Kang Cheonseo let out a troubled hum, but even I could tell she wasn’t genuinely troubled.
"It’s hard to just hand it over empty-handed."
"State your reason."
"Samra, don’t be so harsh. Paseong went through a lot of trouble to get this for me. If I just hand it over to TRA, how would that look?"
Paseong...!
I instinctively pressed my rising backside back into the chair.
Then, with the calmest face I could manage, I asked,
"Did CEO Paseong procure the Good-Looking item?"
"That’s right. CEO Paseong is quite capable, you know. Goyo knows CEO Cha too, right?"
I do. I know him very, very well.
I barely swallowed the words threatening to burst out of me.
Because CEO Cha of Paseong was —
My absolute favorite character!
So he really does exist in real life too.
I was trying to suppress my overwhelming emotions when Kang Cheonseo fanned the flames.
"What to do... Would Goyo like to ask CEO Cha for permission yourself? I’ll patch you through."
She pulled out her phone and waved it.
A call with my favorite character. I couldn’t miss this opportunity.
Struggling to hide my excitement, I said,
"If it wouldn’t be an imposition, I would like to request —"
"No."
Samra cut me off.
His face went blank. The features that had been mimicking human reactions disappeared, leaving a face that was shockingly cold.
"Chairman Kang Cheonseo. What are you doing?"
"What’s wrong, Samra? It’s just one call. Unless there’s something you’re hiding."
"That is not your concern, Chairman Kang Cheonseo."
"Shall I guess?"
Kang Cheonseo said with a sly expression.
"CEO Cha of Paseong has been tracking Goyo, hasn’t he?"