Chapter 28: Doesn’t Like

Gu Liuguang rarely spoke in her live stream. It wasn’t just because her time as a ghost had been too long; facing the camera and saying sweet nothings also made her feel somewhat embarrassed.

She had long known that she was destined to end up with Lin Shixia, so she lacked much motivation to maintain relationships with her boss or fans.

From the start of the stream until now, this was almost the first time Gu Liuguang had shown such an attitude toward a boss.

No one would believe that there was nothing fishy going on between the two.

No one could send out so many gifts without the gift leaderboard showing it clearly. This new boss named “Xi Xia” had long surpassed the other three “ironclad” bosses.

The top three avatars displayed in the live stream didn’t even include Xi Xia’s.

If Gu Liuguang hadn’t specifically mentioned “Xi Xia,” people in the live stream would have thought she had called out the wrong name.

It wasn’t until the suddenly silent live stream chat that an account named “Xi Xia” sent a Douyin No.1 gift, and everyone belatedly realized it wasn’t a slip of the tongue but actually calling out to a boss…

Zhang Ze was also stunned. As a team host who could take a cut of the commissions, he was very familiar with these heavy-spending bosses and had even followed them.

Although the bosses followed him back, they never paid him any attention unless it involved Gu Liuguang.

Only some “small bosses” would frequently corner him to ask about Gu Liuguang.

Of course, the most important thing was that Gu Liuguang treated everyone the same, so the bosses who sent her gifts didn’t mind her attitude. They figured everyone got the same treatment, and at least they had added Gu Liuguang on WeChat.

Until this moment…

No comparison, no harm.

Zhang Ze reacted quickly and had Gu Liuguang hand him the mic. Without time to ask if she knew the new boss, he grabbed it and rattled off his script at top speed: urging everyone to follow, announcing the daily stream times and the weekend PK Tournament, then saying “Goodbye” before swiftly ending the stream.

Fans who had just joined were left reeling, and the next second, a notice popped up: “Live stream closed,” automatically redirecting them elsewhere.

Once the live stream ended, Zhang Ze turned off the music, and the stream moderator shut off the main lights. Everyone crowded around.

The others didn’t react much since they’d never heard of Gu Liuguang “dating” anyone.

It wouldn’t be surprising if a boss wanted to date her.

So when they gathered, no one paid too much attention. Xiao Yao, who was closest, walked over casually and asked the question that matched what everyone else was guessing:

“Liuguang, do you know that ‘Xi Xia’? Is she a friend of yours?”

Zhang Ze was also nervous. He had once harbored some hopes, but with the stream’s rising popularity and the flood of big tips, he no longer thought he had a chance with Gu Liuguang.

In his eyes now, she was a solid money tree. If the money tree had issues, he was more anxious than anyone.

Only after Xiao Yao asked did he snap to it—right, this didn’t mean Gu Liuguang was dating; it could just be a friend…

Hadn’t her “friend” just sent her a necklace today? A rough estimate put it at tens of thousands.

Gu Liuguang’s cheeks were still a bit red from her earlier excitement at Lin Shixia’s finally appearing, plus the dancing in the stream left her a little breathless, so the flush lingered.

Hearing Xiao Yao’s question, Gu Liuguang paused for a moment before remembering to respond. She couldn’t say this might be Lin Shixia—her future girlfriend—so she could only vaguely brush it off: “Yeah, she’s a friend. I didn’t expect her to show up either…”

She had sent so many gifts, so she clearly wasn’t short on cash, or she wouldn’t have climbed the gift leaderboard. Gu Liuguang had even checked Xi Xia’s profile there.

The timing of Xi Xia’s appearance was indeed too coincidental. No new bosses had shown up in days, right when Gu Liuguang was anxious about Lin Shixia not appearing yet. Suddenly, someone with Lin Shixia’s avatar popped up—it was hard not to think it was her.

Hearing this, the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. No need to worry about Gu Liuguang being deceived in love.

Zhang Ze relaxed too, but he still vigilantly reminded her: “You were too special to your friend just now. The other bosses might get upset. Remember to soothe them.”

Worried she wouldn’t take the other bosses seriously, he earnestly advised her a few more times: “Your current earnings are all propped up by those three bosses.”

He lowered his voice: “You know how much you’ll make this month based on this week’s flow? At least a dozen or so!”

Then, whether she wanted a car or a house, it’d be a piece of cake. With money, she’d mostly meet good people.

“Don’t be too obvious with your friend either. The best way is to explain to the other bosses that ‘Xi Xia’ is your friend. That’ll make them feel better.”

After saying this, Zhang Ze thought for a moment and changed his suggestion: “Or next time, just treat the other bosses the same way you did today. They’ll feel good hearing that.”

Anyone would feel good being called out like that by Gu Liuguang.

Zhang Ze couldn’t exactly go through her phone chats, so he only heard bits about her from other bosses—that she didn’t usually maintain them much.

But many bosses ate that up, especially when they chatted and realized she treated everyone the same. Their mindsets balanced out instantly.

Gu Liuguang didn’t take Zhang Ze’s words too much to heart. In her view, she was easy to keep—she’d spend however much money there was.

Whatever money Lin Shixia had, she’d spend it.

Afraid he’d keep nagging, and with her mind on chatting with Lin Shixia, Gu Liuguang nodded to brush him off: “I know. I’ve already picked out gifts for the bosses.”

Hearing this, Zhang Ze felt even more reassured and noticed her impatience, so he dropped it.

They ended late, so they often shared rides home, and today was no different. But compared to usual, Gu Liuguang sat quietly in the back seat.

After packing her bag, she had no mind to admire the necklace. She gripped her phone and started chatting with “Xi Xia,” first confirming the IP—it was indeed B City.

Xi Xia’s explanation was that she had some work in B City lately, collaborating with people in the entertainment industry. She even said if Gu Liuguang wanted anyone’s autograph, she could ask directly—maybe she’d know them.

Gu Liuguang half-jokingly sent a message.

-Little Light: Really? Sis, you’re too nice…

-Xi Xia: Only nice to you [kiss]

-Xi Xia: Does Little Light have any favorite celebrities?

-Little Light: Sis, I want Lin Shixia’s autograph…

-Xi Xia: Little Light likes Lin Shixia? Of course that’s fine.

The reply came fast. Gu Liuguang’s heart jolted, then relaxed hugely, her whole demeanor loosening up.

Though she usually acted carefree, who would willingly give up life if they could live?

Once she was mostly sure it was Lin Shixia, Gu Liuguang pictured her face and chatted more freely. But later, she grew irritated.

Especially when the other side sent an explicit photo—Gu Liuguang’s brow furrowed unconsciously. Before she could ask what it meant, Xi Xia quickly withdrew it, saying it was sent by mistake.

That photo gave Gu Liuguang an indescribable feeling; “sleazy” instinctively flashed in her mind.

Even Zhang Xibai, perverse as she was, wouldn’t send photos of other people exposed like that. The only one who’d sent her somewhat “revealing” pics was Heartthrob Player.

But those were Heartthrob Player’s own photos, full of youthful vitality and beauty without any sleazy vibe—the feeling was completely different.

How could Lin Shixia be like this…

After the withdrawal and excuse, Gu Liuguang stared at the chat, unsure how to reply. She switched screens but kept clicking back to Xi Xia’s box.

After a few times, she scrolled up to review their chat history carefully.

It looked normal—one side interested, the other signaling strongly.

Gu Liuguang still held some reserve, though. She worried being too obvious and “throwing herself” at Lin Shixia might scare her off and derail the plot, so she stayed restrained.

If not for each probe pointing straight to Xi Xia being Lin Shixia, she might have given up several times.

Switching out of the chat, messages from other bosses popped up—idle chit-chat that always circled back to asking about her relationship with the new boss Xi Xia.

Gu Liuguang ignored them all.

Perhaps because she hadn’t replied for so long, Xi Xia couldn’t hold back and sent more sincere messages.

She said those photos were from others and she’d meant to delete them. She promised never to send that kind to Gu Liuguang again.

-Xi Xia: Baby, don’t ignore me, okay? [grievance]

Gu Liuguang frowned at the chat, held back, and finally silenced her phone and pocketed it.

Her expression was too obvious—Xiao Yao in the car noticed and asked concernedly: “Liuguang, what’s wrong? Feeling unwell?”

Gu Liuguang shook her head and said she was just a bit tired.

Xiao Yao: “Want to come out with us? There’s a new store in Wangjiang, pretty close to the company. Lots of celebs go there. They say the new DJ is super hype—hot girl, dances with real energy!”

When Gu Liuguang first came to A City, people dragged her to tons of bars. In those dim spots, it always felt like everyone crowded in, suffocating her.

Before, she might’ve gone if Xiao Yao insisted.

But now her mind was full of Lin Shi