The Extra in a Baseball Novel

Just past midnight, Lee Siha sat at her computer in the dark room, without turning on a single light.

She pushed back her tousled hair, left her pajama buttons half undone, and turned on the power button with her toe. She positioned the potato chips and soda she had brought with her at a safe distance from the keyboard.

‘Absolutely perfect!’

Playing games or watching YouTube for an hour or two before bed.

It was a simple hobby of a chaebol heiress that no one would ever imagine, and a time when she could throw away the burdens of her business persona and formal speech.

For now, she left the potato chips and soda unopened.

It was best to enjoy them with the perfect entertainment.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The moment she opened YouTube, thumbnails that made her mouth water lined up. Since so many videos were recommended according to her taste, it was impossible not to get hooked.

“I really can’t quit this.”

[The Biggest Star in High School Baseball, Cha Taehyun’s Presidential Cup Challenge?]

‘Choosing Cha Taehyun as our promotional model was definitely a good decision.’

Even though her usual algorithm recommended videos about animations and games, seeing a baseball video, especially high school baseball, meant that it was trending quite well.

Well, that was that, and this was her precious time to wash away the fatigue of the day, so she had no intention of watching the video.

“Hm…?”

But… the bat that Cha Taehyun was holding looked particularly familiar.

“It’s our company’s product…?”

‘Did he use it for publicity in the interview?’

However, the related video next to it, the Presidential Cup’s first game, also showed Cha Taehyun using the prototype that Lee Siha had provided.

Click.

Lee Siha decided to watch that video for a bit.

In the game footage, Cha Taehyun was even more thorough than in the interview.

He was using the bat, gloves, and even the glove that Lee Siha had provided—the kind of equipment that baseball players rarely change once they break it in.

He even swung the bat twice as if to make sure the Nixon logo was visible every time he stepped up to the plate.

“If someone saw this, they’d think it was just part of his routine…”

-Crack.

“Huh?”

Without realizing it, she had opened the potato chips in surprise.

‘Am I actually enjoying a baseball video?’

She had a passion for the baseball business and loved making equipment, but she never liked watching the game. This was certainly a surprising discovery.

-Glug glug…

Deciding to go all in, Lee Siha poured herself some soda and slowly immersed herself in Cha Taehyun’s video.

…

“Hmm… Baseball is more interesting than I thought.”

More than anything, seeing the products she had put so much effort into making appear in the video made her proud and happy.

The video was the video, but there was a need to set some boundaries. Lee Siha was the type to strictly adhere to contracts.

Although Cha Taehyun’s use of the products might have been helpful, it was outside the terms of their contract, so she had to make that clear.

She picked up her phone and began typing a message.

[Sorry for the late hour. I happened to see a video on YouTube today, and I noticed you were promoting our products. While I appreciate it, we would like to ask that you refrain from promoting them until we request it.]

‘Hmm… It’s not like the promotion was a bad thing, but will he feel a bit offended?’

Lee Siha started to type another message.

[This time, we’ll send you promotional fees. But in the future, we’d like to…]

Before she could finish typing, Cha Taehyun’s reply arrived, making her pause.

[I didn’t promote it?]

“Huh?”

[Oh, sorry. I’m not used to using formal speech in texts.]

No, that’s not the issue here…

[You can speak however you’re comfortable. But what do you mean you didn’t promote it? It was clearly visible in the game footage.]

[I just used it because I liked it.]

For a moment, Lee Siha was stunned. It wasn’t that she was surprised by his immediate informal tone when she had told him to be comfortable. What shocked her was his response about simply using the products because he liked them.

[You liked it?]

Wasn’t that too much of a lip service? There were already plenty of high-quality baseball equipment brands out there, and customized gloves were quite accessible.

But… he was someone who had just earned 1 billion won, using a product that had just entered production, let alone been released? And on top of that, giving it a positive review?

Of course, she had put a lot of effort into it. She had put everything into this business.

But since the products hadn’t even been officially launched yet, she wasn’t entirely confident.

[No, I’m serious. I really like it… Want to know why?]

She chuckled at the sight of his abbreviations.

She had been taking this conversation quite seriously as part of the business, but he was talking as if he were chatting with a friend.

Still, it wasn’t a bad feeling. Not at all.

[Sure, please do.]

[First of all, the bat is great. It’s durable, the ball travels well, and the weight is perfect…]

[The glove also seems designed for comfort. It’s light and feels good… But if I had to suggest an improvement, the color scheme of the glove is a bit tacky, and the bat could use something other than the Nixon lettering…]

As the flood of messages continued, Lee Siha found herself reading with a blank expression before a smile crept across her face.

At first, she had thought he was just flattering her, saying things he didn’t mean to stay on her good side…

But after reading his messages, she realized that wasn’t the case. It felt more like the feedback of a regular customer who genuinely enjoyed the product and wanted to see some improvements.

[Okay, I’ll work on those parts.]

[Great, send me the improved version when it’s ready.]

With a smile, Lee Siha typed her reply.

[Of course. If there’s anything else you’d like, just let me know. I’ll send it all.]

[Then, can you recommend something you’re confident in?]

“The bat… it has to be the N200, right?”

“The glove? That’s a bit trickier…”

The whole time they texted, the smile never left her face.

It was a new, fresh feeling, but not an unpleasant one.

Was it because she had never made friends due to her single-minded pursuit of success since she was young? Is that why she found this conversation so enjoyable?

‘I get why my sister texts so often now. This… is really fun.’

For the first time in a long while, she could text not for profit, but simply for conversation.

[It’s getting late, so I’m going to sleep. Good night.]

Smiling contentedly at the message, she decided to respond with a hint of sincerity.

[Good night. If you’re curious about anything else in the future, feel free to contact me.]

…

Meanwhile, Cha Taehyun grinned as he looked at the texts.

“As expected of Lee Siha. She’s got some nerve.”

Actually, he had planned to confess that he was promoting the products and ask for an incentive. But he thought that might be a bit too much, so he subtly hinted at wanting to try more of her products.

She had readily agreed to send him whatever he wanted, which he found quite likable.

More than anything, he was pleased that he wouldn’t have to go out and buy his own equipment; she’d send them right to him.

“Guess I won’t have to worry about equipment anymore.”

TL Note:

Novels now have an official schedule:

Learn more