Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Sihwa was in a bad mood. She had wanted to scold [Watermelon], but the person had left immediately and didn’t give her the chance to.
In the blink of an eye, her number of followers dropped a few from 3177. Several frequent visitors also canceled their subscription and exited the live broadcast room.
“The live broadcast will end here today! I’m not broadcasting anymore!” Sihwa was in a really bad mood. She turned off the live app in anger and didn’t even greet her fans.
Sihwa played around with her phone, but it was the first time that she thought that it was quite boring. “How awful! Saying a lot of things that don’t make sense only affects my mood!”
She changed a few positions to play with her phone, trying to find the fun of playing with her phone that she had before, but she was unable to concentrate. She recalled what that person said and compared it to her own situation––she wanted to prove that the person was wrong. However, the more she compared, the more it seemed to prove that the person was right.
“Wu…” She placed the phone aside. Her arms folded over the edge of the bathtub and she rested her head on them weakly, feeling very terrible.
“Sihwa, are you not feeling well?” She heard the voice and looked up to see Old Time Tea’s brass-colored eyes staring at her.
“That’s not it…” she said, sitting up straight. She pursed her lips and glanced over at Old Time Tea. “Old Time Tea, what are you doing up here?”
Old Time Tea rarely came back upstairs after going downstairs every morning. “Oh, this old one has had a lot of water, so I need the toilet. I heard your voice from the hallway and wondered if you were not feeling well, so I came over to visit,” Old Time Tea explained. “Since you’re fine, this old one shall head back downstairs.”
Sihwa was indeed feeling unwell, but it wasn’t her body. Instead, it was her heart. She really wanted to speak to someone, or else there was no place for her to vent her frustration and anger. She was about to explode from holding it all in.
“Old Time Tea, wait up!” she called after it. Sihwa had wanted to speak with Fina, but Fina came up at random times and she just couldn’t hold it in any longer.
Old Time Tea turned around. “Is there anything else?”
When the words came to her lips, Sihwa hesitated again. She nervously peeked at Old Time Tea’s face and asked, “I have a few questions that I would like to ask you, but you can’t tell the others about my problems––especially that cheapskate Zhang Zian. Otherwise, he would definitely laugh at me…”
“Oh, rest assured––this old one’s mouth is sealed.” Old Time Tea laughed.
“You said it yourself. You have to keep your words!” Sihwa worriedly confirmed again.
Old Time Tea stopped smiling and said seriously, “This old one will never go back on my words, nor will it be taken back. Sihwa, if you don’t believe in this old one, it’s fine if you don’t say anything.”
Having said that, Old Time Tea turned to leave.
“Hold up! I believe you! Why would you leave so early? Not like you’re going on a holiday!” Sihwa quickly stopped Old Time Tea. After some hesitation, she brought up her courage and whispered, “That… Fina always scolds me that I’m an idiot. Am I really stupid? It’s okay to tell me the truth!”
Although that was what she said, she stared at Old Time Tea with an anxious look, as if to say, “Comfort me even if it’s a little. It doesn’t matter if you’re not telling the truth.”
Old Time Tea didn’t seem to notice the look in her eyes and asked her, “Why are you asking such questions?”
Sihwa briefly explained what happened earlier. “Old Time Tea, they all say that you’re well-informed, so tell me––was that person right?”
Old Time Tea didn’t give her an answer right away, but walked back and forth, seemingly in deep thought.
Sihwa started fidgeting as she waited anxiously. She was keen to know the answer but yet she was also afraid to know the answer.
“This old one feels that what the person said does make some sense,” Old Time Tea stopped moving and looked right back at her.
“Is… is that so?” Sihwa’s heart tightened, but she still held onto a sliver of hope. She hoped that Old Time Tea would say that it was joking. But she was disappointed. Old Time Tea’s face remained serious and calm; there was no hint of it being a joke.
Old Time Tea said, “That person mentioned that you’re able to attract audiences with your beauty, but you’re unable to make them stay and you can’t turn those audience members into your fans. They’re only here to see you out of curiosity. After they’ve seen you, they will feel like you have no other means to attract them and they’ll leave without hesitation. Is that what that person meant?”
Sihwa nodded.
Old Time Tea brushed his whiskers and laughed. “Sihwa, have you ever heard of an ancient poem that says, ‘Using your beauty to satisfy, how long before it all pales?’”
Sihwa shook her head in a blur. She didn’t even know the words used to compose the poem.
Old Time Tea explained, “This poem is saying that the beauty of an appearance can only be pleasing for a while. On the other hand, inner beauty is the one that lasts. Another one with a similar meaning is, ‘Using your beauty as an asset to attract others, their love will pale as your beauty fades.’ This means that people who are attracted by your beauty will leave you when they’ve had enough of your beauty or when your beauty fades with age.”
Sihwa was still not convinced. Her beauty was a beauty that transcended the earthly world, so how would anyone get tired of it?
“You don’t believe me?” Old Time Tea seemed to have expected her reaction. “When it comes to appearance, you are indeed unparalleled in the world––there are no other similar examples in the world. However, there are many beautiful works of art in this world, and there is a lot of beautiful scenery. All of the beautiful scenery and the artwork awes first-time visitors. But for the museum staff and the local residents, they are already used to it. They have no special feelings about the artwork or the beautiful scenery. Isn’t it similar to your situation?”
Sihwa was at a loss for words because Old Time Tea’s clearly showed the problem—no matter how beautiful, the more one looked at it, the more they’d be used to it. That was probably why she couldn’t make her fans stay… It was just like how tourists admired and appreciated artwork and scenery, but that was all it was––they would not migrate over just because of the artwork or scenery. They will not settle in the local area because of the artwork or the beautiful scenery. Even if they really migrated and settled down, it would be uninteresting after they got used to it.
“That… what should I do?” She sprawled on the edge of the bathtub like she lost all her strength. “I’m stupid and I’ve not attended school before… I’ve never read a book, never worked… Is it destined that I will not be able to make fans stay?”
“That may not be true.” Old tea laughed. “Sihwa, you don’t have to be discouraged. Nothing is impossible. Who is born having the experience of going to school, reading books, and working? And who is more stupid than who? If you’re willing to work hard, you can catch up with the others soon.”
Continuing with his words, Old Time Tea temporarily left, then returned moments later with a book. The book was a novel that Pi had previously read and Old Time Tea took it from the shelf with Pi’s permission.
“You may wish to temporarily put down your phone and start reading books.” Old Time Tea handed the book to her.
Sihwa took the book and a rough and unfamiliar sensation came to her fingertips. It was not as smooth as the phone case.
“Can I get ten points for reading books?” she asked.
“Of course,” Old Time Tea smiled. “One who is filled with knowledge will always behave with elegance! If there is a person in this world who can reach ten points, I believe that it must be you!”
Sihwa looked down at the cover of the book. “Then… then I’ll read it.”
