Chapter 20

Huang Xiaoyi’s gossiping heart was bigger than the sky itself. When she got serious about it, she was like a stubborn bull, determined to see what Lin Qimian was looking at.

Lin Qimian used both hands to push her away and finally shoved her back into her seat. The driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror and chuckled, “Little girl, you’re full of energy.”

“Little girl, be quiet,” Lin Qimian said as she held her down. She didn’t make eye contact, staying perfectly calm and composed while lying without a hint of guilt. “I’m… in a meeting.”

“A meeting????” Huang Xiaoyi’s eyes widened, and she suddenly lowered her voice. “I’m not smart, but don’t treat me like an idiot. It’s normal for you to have a meeting, but it’s not normal for your face to be flushed and your neck red while you’re in one—and refusing to let me see…”

Lin Qimian threatened her, “It’d be normal for me to get out of the car right now and let you go have your fun alone.”

Huang Xiaoyi: “!!!!!”

She clamped her mouth shut.

Lin Qimian always followed through on threats like that.

Huang Xiaoyi shrank back into her seat, but her eyes still darted toward Lin Qimian’s bag.

Xu Yueliang waited a long time for a response, then said with a laugh in her voice, “Nonsense. 11 must be busy, or maybe he’s just… slow at typing!”

Lin Qimian: “…”

Xu Yueliang was really good at making excuses for her—how long could it possibly take to type a 1?

She used one hand to block the peeping person beside her while her other hand slipped into her bag. She quickly typed a string of 2s and hit send.

The cheerful voice in her earphones instantly went silent. After a long pause, a deeply disappointed “Ah…” finally came through.

Lin Qimian smiled.

Xu Yueliang started making excuses for herself again. “11 doesn’t want to watch but still sends gifts, which means he thinks I’d look better in other clothes~~ He’s complimenting how good-looking I am~~~”

Lin Qimian’s lips curved upward as she chuckled endlessly.

She turned her body sideways, pulled out her phone, and shielded the screen completely before quickly typing a message.

[You’d definitely look great in a school uniform too, but they wouldn’t appreciate it, so I’m not letting them see.]

Xu Yueliang: “Wow!!!”

This time, Lin Qimian caught a glimpse of Xu Yueliang’s smiling face through her fingers. Her eyes sparkled with genuine joy.

Lin Qimian stuffed her phone back into her bag. Xu Yueliang’s voice pressed right against her ear: “Look at 11, everyone—he’s so good with words~~”

“No way, no way, that’s not a shill~~ How could I afford a big shill like 11~~~”

Huang Xiaoyi didn’t dare move anymore, but her eyes weren’t blind.

Her eyeballs darted around busily—up, down, left, right—taking in everything she could see.

She glanced sideways at Lin Qimian’s beaming face. “What kind of meeting content are you discussing? You’re this happy about it.”

Lin Qimian straightened up and cleared her throat. “Medical shills.”

Huang Xiaoyi: “…”

Lin Qimian: “Ever since the city’s special operation last time, medical shill behavior has decreased a lot. I’m really gratified by that.”

Huang Xiaoyi: “…………”

Huang Xiaoyi fell deep into thought.

Since she wasn’t speaking, Lin Qimian naturally didn’t continue the topic. She hadn’t removed her earphones and couldn’t see the live stream screen, so she paid even closer attention to the sounds from the live stream room.

Xu Yueliang happily thanked her fans, playfully dragging out the time by combining her thank-you dance with the upcoming segment dance to get it all done at once.

She even made decisions on her behalf, saying 11 definitely wants me to do this—he’s always liked it when I rest more.

With Huang Xiaoyi right beside her, Lin Qimian couldn’t refute it, so she let Xu Yueliang have that one for now.

When the car pulled up to the restaurant Huang Xiaoyi had chosen, Xu Yueliang was just wrapping up her temporary goodbye to everyone, heading off to change her clothes and makeup for the evening showdown.

Lin Qimian’s earphones no longer carried Xu Yueliang’s voice—just background music—which wasn’t worth listening to anymore.

She turned to Huang Xiaoyi. “What are we eating tonight?”

Huang Xiaoyi: “Dr. Lin, you’ve finally remembered there’s a whole live person sitting right next to you.”

Lin Qimian: “I’ve remembered the whole time, or else it wouldn’t have been just a meeting.”

Huang Xiaoyi: “…So, is your meeting over now?”

Lin Qimian: “Mid-session break.”

Huang Xiaoyi: “So you’re taking advantage of the break to grab a meal with me?”

Lin Qimian: “Balancing work and life—I have it tough too.”

Huang Xiaoyi gave up bickering with her; she could never win anyway.

The two of them entered the restaurant. Huang Xiaoyi ignored what Lin Qimian wanted and just ordered everything she liked.

Lin Qimian didn’t mind at all. She even smiled and praised her warmly, saying she was methodical and thoughtful in everything she did.

Once all the dishes were served, Lin Qimian finally took off her earphones and started eating.

But her phone sat on the seat next to her, with the live stream shrunken to a corner, still playing.

When Huang Xiaoyi stood up to grab something, she spotted the phone but couldn’t make out the screen. She tilted her head and asked, “Qimian, when did you switch phones?”

Lin Qimian: “It’s a backup. I use whichever one I feel like.”

Huang Xiaoyi sat down, her face full of suspicion as she shot several glances at Lin Qimian.

Lin Qimian devoted eighty percent of her attention to real life—eating, drinking, and chatting with Huang Xiaoyi.

She split the remaining twenty percent evenly between the live stream feed and the messages in the Voyage Group.

The PK battle had already begun. The two streamers’ screens each took up half the display, with little interaction between them as they focused on their own performances.

In a typical PK, it was simply a matter of who racked up more gifts within a set time limit. But since the platform was running this as an event, they had made it far more elaborate.

There was a task list: live viewer counts, chat activity levels, requirements for gifts at various tiers, and even head-to-head comparisons of top individual fan spending.

In short, it challenged the streamers from every angle, forcing them to pull out all the stops to draw more traffic and prove whose top donors were the most devoted.

In the early stages, the atmosphere on both sides remained fairly relaxed. Xu Yueliang flashed her signature smile, bantering with viewers, cracking corny jokes. Anna, by contrast, was utterly casual—stone-faced as she fiddled with her props, even pausing to eat from a bowl nearby. She made no effort to pander to most of the audience, offering only a flat “thanks” when gifts rolled in.

On ordinary days, the differences might not stand out. But side by side like this, Xu Yueliang’s professionalism shot through the roof by comparison.

Viewers, however, weren’t tuning in to judge work ethic. The two streamers embodied contrasting styles; it was just a matter of which one you preferred.

During this time, Lin Qimian barely lifted a finger.

Xu Yueliang’s fans were fierce fighters, keeping the scores neck-and-neck, with Xu even holding a slight edge.

The Voyage Group provided constant battle updates, which was far more convenient than Lin Qimian checking herself.

As Huang Xiaoyi vented about her recent work frustrations, the match hit its midpoint.

Two bigshots in the Voyage Group went all-out, and Xu Yueliang’s score surged far ahead of Anna’s.

Lin Qimian relaxed, pulling her focus back to listen fully to Huang Xiaoyi.

She figured once the meal wrapped up, so would the match. Then she could head home and shower Xu Yueliang with gifts in celebration.

But it wasn’t long before Lin Qimian’s phone started buzzing like mad.

Huang Xiaoyi trailed off mid-sentence, raising her chin in surprise. “What’s going on? Who’s blowing up your phone like that? Check it out.”

Lin Qimian lit up the screen and immediately saw the Voyage Group exploding with messages. The admin had @-ed everyone, cursing up a storm to rally the charge.

The chat was a torrent of profanity, as if something truly outrageous had gone down.

“Hang on a sec.” Lin Qimian grabbed her phone and started toward the door.

Huang Xiaoyi waved her off. “Hey, at a time like this, no need to hide. Whatever it is, handle it right here. The booth’s quiet—step out, and you’ll be stuck in the bathroom.”

Lin Qimian paused, then sank back into her seat. “What about you, then…”

Huang Xiaoyi shrugged. “Go on, deal with it. I’m good.”

Lin Qimian lowered her gaze to the phone, diving into the messages.

The PK had reached its final stretch. A bigshot had appeared in Anna’s stream, dropping a massive string of gifts that rocketed her score past Xu Yueliang’s.

From then on, whenever Xu Yueliang pleaded for gifts, that bigshot countered by showering Anna’s stream. Once, twice, three times, four—the viewers caught on quick. Soon, someone in Xu Yueliang’s chat laid it all out: Anna’s bigshot fan used to be the number-one donor on Xu Yueliang’s half-year leaderboard.

After some “infamous incident,” they had a massive falling out. The Big Bro vanished… only to resurface in the opponent’s stream.

And from the looks of it, he was gunning straight for Xu Yueliang.

Whether Anna won or not was beside the point—Xu Yueliang had to lose.

The Voyage Group was in an uproar. By the time Lin Qimian caught up, fans were already vowing to empty their wallets just to fight back.

But for every gift they threw, that bigshot matched it on Anna’s side, padding her score for free.

The bigshot’s username was 【Just Playing】, and he was clearly having the time of his life.

Anna’s fans were over the moon, swarming Xu Yueliang’s chat to gloat.

【Streamer, beg for something big! The harder you beg, the more our Anna banks.】

【Do a sexy dance to hype us up—you get off, we get off.】

【Outsiders might think you and Anna are family. You yap up front, she scoops the cash from behind.】

【Tsk tsk tsk, old flame can’t compete with the new one. What were you thinking back then?】

【She just loves to pretend, doesn’t she? Acting like a pure little white lotus who takes guys’ money but won’t let them lay a finger on her. And now she’s flipped her car.】

【I heard you refunded all her money. For real? How much? Can you even afford that?】

【If she could really afford to refund it, why’s she still dancing here? She’d be lounging at home like a princess.】

【Hold up, front row—what kind of princess are you talking about?】

Lin Qimian glanced at the barrage and tossed out two fireworks to clear the screen.

The moment she appeared in the Voyage Group, it erupted in a frenzy:

【Big Bro, you’re finally here, Big Bro!】

【Big Bro, we thought you’d stopped caring about our Little Moon!】

【Big Bro, forget that other Big Bro—he’s just a dumbass.】

【Big Bro 11 is the real deal!】

【Big Bro 11, tell us how we fight back!】

…

Lin Qimian didn’t respond. She zoomed in on the live stream feed, her eyes fixed on Xu Yueliang.

Xu Yueliang had just wrapped up a dance routine and turned back to queue up new music. Leaning forward as she did, she had a clear view of the barrage scrolling across the screen.

Her gaze lingered there for the briefest moment—a split-second hesitation—before she smoothed it away.

Just as she always ignored the crude come-ons during her regular streams, she brushed past every vicious attack, her smile unwavering as she thanked the gift-givers one by one.

She rattled off a long string of names from the donor list, then straightened up, pressed her palms together, and bowed deeply to the camera. “Thank you! Thank you all so much~~”

“If there’s a dance you want to see, just drop it in the barrage~~”

“Today’s gift total could keep me dancing for a full twenty-four hours straight, but a girl needs her beauty sleep too. So please, have mercy—save the smashing for tomorrow, and I’ll dance my heart out then~~”

“My monthly goals are all cleared! Little Moon is over the moon~~”

It was a clear plea: everyone, stop clashing with the other side.

That almost defeatist vibe sent Anna’s fans into a mocking frenzy.

【That’s all she’s got? Bro, endurance ain’t your strong suit.】

【What’s she scared of more gifts for? Afraid she can’t refund ’em later?】

【Figures she doesn’t think she’s worth it.】

【Knew we’d win, but damn, didn’t think it’d be this easy.】

【Just Playing Big Bro is a legend!】

…

Lin Qimian killed the barrage display. She studied Xu Yueliang’s face.

Xu Yueliang picked her next track, then spun back to her full-body dance spot, gearing up for the performance.

Right before the beat dropped, she shifted her stance a little.

A few seconds of stillness—she seemed to be fussing with her hair.

In that fleeting pause, Lin Qimian felt it: Xu Yueliang’s quiet despair.

No rage, just sorrow.

A serene, wordless sorrow, flowing like a silent river.

When she turned back, though, she was all sunshine again—that radiant Little Moon, bursting with endless energy as she threw herself into the pounding rhythm.

The Voyage Group had descended into chaos. Some clamored to keep fighting; others urged everyone to respect Moon’s wishes and stand down.

Lin Qimian’s fingers flew across the keyboard:

【Fight.】

【But smart.】

【Everyone in this group—how much can you drop tonight? Give me numbers.】

【Admins, tally it. Hold fire for now. We rush the final ten seconds.】

【Gifts low to high. I’ll close it out.】

【Gifting takes time. We hit that window.】

One voice piped up:

【Other side will blitz the last seconds too—usually with whales…】

Lin Qimian: 【I got it covered.】

The group lit up:

【Our list-topper is a beast!】

【Big Bro 11 makes history again!!!】

【Big Bro 11 makes history again!!!】

…

With the plan locked in, the group settled.

Admins took charge. No more bickering with the trolls in barrage—kick the worst offenders straight to blacklist.

By the time Xu Yueliang finished her dance and checked back in, her live room felt like a utopia.

Even the usually rowdy fans were showering her with love: 【Confetti】【Moon’s dance was fire】【Skills on point, leveled up】【Moon’s gorgeous】【Moon’s adorable】【Moon’s the absolute best】…

Xu Yueliang’s smile bloomed, her eyes crinkling into happy crescents. “Thank you all! You’re the best too!”

Whatever trash talk flew in Anna’s room? Out of sight, out of mind—you couldn’t police strangers.

PK clock ticked down to the final minutes. Smooth sailing.

Lin Qimian topped up her account and set up passwordless payments on Orange, just to be safe.

Then, out of nowhere, a five-crown VIP swept into Xu Yueliang’s stream, his gleaming Imperial Crown badge stealing every eye in the room.

Xu Yueliang’s smile hitched for a heartbeat. The intruder’s handle: 【Just Playing】. He wasted no time, blasting in with fireworks.

The barrage went nuclear:

【WTF, why’s he here?】

【Ain’t that the whale from next door?】

【Did he just flip sides??】

【Holy shit, streamer PK drama is next-level thrilling!】

Xu Yueliang stared at the screen without thanking him for the fireworks.

【Just Playing】’s colorful barrage comments scrolled out in quick succession:

-【How come there’s not even a welcome? Is this the quality of the Dance District’s top female streamer?】

-【Oh, you’re not first anymore. You’ve dropped to second.】

-【Giving up already? Convinced? Weren’t you so stubborn before?】

-【Say you were wrong right now, and I’ll send you straight back to first.】

The barrage exploded:

【This love-hate drama】

【This domineering CEO vibe】

【Why does it feel like a little couple quarreling?】

【Big Bro lives up to the name—coaxing his wife with such fanfare】

【I’m loving Anna’s expression right now】

【Moon, just admit you were wrong. Admit it! Family doesn’t need harsh words.】

【Looks like that earlier thing was real. The refunded money just went into his own pocket.】

~~~

Xu Yueliang’s smile vanished from her face. She clenched her fingers tight, her eyelashes fluttering as her eyes quickly reddened.

Lin Qimian’s heart clenched as if gripped by an invisible hand—those fingertips might as well have been her own. The slightest stir of air could whip up a storm inside her.

She had seen Xu Yueliang cry many times before, but she didn’t want to see it now.

Lin Qimian tapped into the gift panel she had prepared in advance and hit send. In an instant, countless fireworks and cruise ships erupted across the screen in a dazzling display.

The Voyage Group fell silent for a beat, then erupted in chaos.

【Bigshot, why charge in now?!?!】

【What are we supposed to do later?!?!】

【We said to win this rationally!!!】

【Big Bro’s lost it—what do I do? I’m losing it too!!!】

【Crazy as hell—bullying our Little Moon!!!】

【Brothers and sisters!!! Charge!!!】

The screen filled with special effects like a blaring battle horn, blotting out every comment and every frame of video.

Xu Yueliang’s face hid behind this onslaught, wrapped in armor as hard as steel.

The PK bars underwent a dramatic reversal. Little Moon’s blue bar shot upward like a vengeful serpent, devouring Anna’s red one whole.

Lin Qimian typed a single line: 【You were always first.】

In the next instant, her phone screen plunged into darkness. A yellow-and-black warning message flashed into view.

【Abnormal spending detected on your account. Cease immediately!!!】

From: National Anti-Fraud Center APP.