Chapter 4: moving
“Ugh… I know you said you don’t like the others, but this place isn’t that great either. The transportation, view, and safety are fine, but the building’s about 15 years old…”
“Hold on a sec.”
I started looking around.
After entering the real estate office, I got straight to the point.
I was looking for a two-room place on a monthly lease.
With that, the realtor lady took me to see a few places.
And that’s when my boosted talents and skills kicked in.
My maxed-out architecture knowledge started revealing flaws in the buildings.
‘The first place had shoddy construction—thin outer walls.’
It looked modern, but it was practically the flimsiest house ever.
Soundproofing would be terrible, and it’d be freezing in winter, sweltering in summer.
‘The second place had alignment issues.’
From the door lock to the interior doors and flooring, everything was misaligned.
The margins of error were obvious, and places like that were prone to pests.
‘The third place looked clean, but it had moisture issues.’
It was built facing the wrong direction for sunlight.
It might be fine now, but give it time, and mold would definitely creep in.
One by one, I checked and rejected them.
Finally, at the fourth place, I felt satisfied.
‘It’s old, but… it might actually be the best one.’
Older buildings were often sturdier and better constructed than newer ones.
This one showed clear signs of careful craftsmanship—minimal errors in tolerances.
The walls felt solid when I tapped them, no hint of shoddy work.
The layout of the living room and bedrooms, the square footage, the south-facing windows, the view from the eighth floor, the park right below, the large elevator, and the reasonable price for an older building…
‘…This is it.’
I made my decision.
The exterior looked worn, but it was well-maintained, with no cracks or damage.
The outdated wallpaper and interior? I could renovate those.
“I’ll take this one.”
“Oh my, are you sure? It doesn’t have any fancy options, just the bare space.”
“That’s exactly why it’s great. I can decorate it however I want. Plus, it’s better built than newer places.”
“Oh my goodness, you know your stuff!”
The realtor’s eyes sparkled as she praised my choice.
Working in real estate, she seemed to know a thing or two about buildings herself.
“You’re absolutely right. What’s the point of advanced building codes when people’s ethics get worse every day? New buildings are often worse!”
“That’s why I like this one.”
“Oh, you’ve got a good eye! I’ll talk to the landlord and see if we can get you a deal.”
Pleased that I knew my stuff, the realtor called the landlord, negotiated some terms, and managed to lower the price.
I signed a contract for a 30 million won deposit and 400,000 won monthly rent.
Even on the outskirts of Seoul, with good transportation access, this was an incredible deal for a two-room place.
Sure, it lacked modern amenities, and I’d have to renovate, but that was the trade-off.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, don’t mention it! A pretty lady who knows her buildings—how could I not help?”
She waved it off with a smile.
After that, we returned to the office, and I finalized the contract with the landlord, an older man.
The place was now mine to use as I pleased.
‘As long as I renovate, the contract says I can stay as long as I want.’
So, it was worth investing in.
The downside was no provided options, meaning I’d have to pay for renovations myself.
But the low rent, freedom to decorate, and the clause preventing the landlord from easily evicting me after renovations made it a solid deal.
Grinning, I started gathering materials to renovate the place my way.
No need to hire a contractor.
I’d do it faster and better myself.
And cheaper, too.
Wallpaper, flooring, lighting, furniture, electronics.
Once everything was ready, I rented a lift truck, connected it to the eighth floor, and began the renovation.
Construction permits? A breeze.
The building was mostly occupied by men, and a quick appearance had them eagerly signing off.
With that, I started smoothly, tearing out the old sink, wallpaper, and flooring.
Using the expertise in my head, I handled it all cleanly.
Next, it was time to set the base—wallpaper, flooring, and ceiling.
‘White wallpaper with a fresh greenish tint…’
‘Brown wood-patterned flooring…’
‘Mint-green ceiling…’
Like decorating a forest, I used green and brown to create a calming, eye-friendly vibe.
Then, I arranged furniture for optimal flow, placed electronics, cleaned up, and unpacked my stuff.
The move was complete.
It took a grueling 15 hours, but I did it.
“Phew…”
The living room had a big TV, sofa, and drawers—a classic setup.
The kitchen had a sleek L-shaped sink and dining table, complete with a fridge, microwave, air fryer, oven, and rice cooker.
The streaming room was key: a foldable bed, a large computer desk, a comfy chair, a dual-PC setup, and a soundproof booth.
Everything was ready.
The other room? A home gym.
Since I’d been reborn like this, I figured I’d maintain myself properly with exercise equipment.
The house was impeccably organized, clean, and satisfying.
“No comparison to before.”
Back when I was a guy, I tried to keep things tidy, but it always felt a bit cluttered.
Now, my place looked like a model home—perfectly aligned and calming to the soul.
This was my home now…
‘…Customization is the best.’
Amazed at what customization could do, I started pulling points from architecture talents, no longer needed.
With the move done, it was time to plan my streaming career.
*
‘The equipment is all set.’
I’d bought cost-effective yet high-end mics and webcams, a top-tier dual-PC setup, powerful speakers, and various consoles.
VR gear was ready too, and the foldable bed left plenty of space if needed.
The streaming setup was perfect. رشته
But the question was: what kind of stream?
‘Should I sing?’
‘Or maybe draw?’
First, I needed to decide my streaming theme.
And then, how to make my once-in-a-lifetime debut stream special.
Faced with these weighty choices, I sank into deep thought.
‘For the debut, I want something unique…’
In TS web novels, protagonists often start streams in dramatic ways.
Like getting accused of cheating in a game and starting a stream to clear their name.
Or appearing on someone else’s stream, charming viewers who beg them to start their own.
TS protagonists always kick off with something memorable.
I wanted my debut to be special too—not just a bland introduction, but something attention-grabbing.
A standout debut wouldn’t just feel good; it’d draw viewers from the start, acting as a powerful hook.
Both emotionally and from a business perspective, it made sense.
‘…I’ll find a way to make my debut special, even if it means delaying a bit.’
I resolved to create a debut stream that would leave a mark.