Chapter 44 – The Little Streamer's Actual Participation
After idly scrolling through his social feed for a while, Jiang Cheng opened the Live Streaming Platform app and searched his way into Sister Qiao's room.
After all, a Girl with a face-score of 94 wasn't someone you could see every day.
They hadn't added each other on wechat, but watching the stream might be the first step toward all sorts of follow-up collaborations.
The moment he entered, he saw Qiao Yinyin pacing around her room, apparently getting ready to go live.
Right then, Jiang Cheng heard the system notification.
"Ding! Host's streaming account detected as too shabby—system gifting three million Fish-Fin Coins."
Hearing that, Jiang Cheng couldn't help grinning.
This Dream-Come-True tycoon system was seriously awesome.
It found every possible excuse to throw money at him, anytime, anywhere.
Once the three million Fish-Fin Coins were credited, his formerly level-10 free-loading account inexplicably jumped straight to level 65.
At that moment Qiao Yinyin sat rather dejectedly in front of her desk.
From the background it was clear she was in a tiny bedroom.
Jiang Cheng casually typed: "Streamer, no Urban-Exploring tonight?"
Seeing an unfamiliar level-60+ account enter her room, Qiao Yinyin instantly perked up.
She glanced over and said, "Big Brother The Sea Calming Divine Needle, welcome! Tonight we've got a Guild PK mission, so no going out."
Truth was, her room sometimes pulled decent heat; when she went exploring she'd even get a small wave of viewers.
But she had no deep-pocketed top supporter to back her—only guide-level Stream Viewers dropping gifts.
Most were freebies; small tips showed up now and then, big-ticket ones almost never.
And Qiao Yinyin refused to use "special tricks" to keep big-spenders hooked.
Ever since the top supporter who'd once tipped her twenty grand asked to meet for "extra services" and got rejected, her channel had stayed in the doldrums.
After all, who supports a Female Streamer you can't meet in person?
Right now her viewer count wasn't low, but most were ordinary Stream Viewers.
"Little Streamer, why so tragic? Weekly ranking still looks awful."
Reading the scattered barrage, Qiao Yinyin gave a helpless smile: "Because the pups in my room love watching me lose—hmph."
Just then some viewers started getting lewd: "Little Streamer, how many babies have you popped out??"
Qiao Yinyin leaned closer, read it aloud: "How many babies? Nineteen. You're my twentieth—alright, silence-package coming up."
Jiang Cheng burst out laughing; as she herself admitted, she neither flattered top supporters nor sweet-talked viewers—no wonder she couldn't keep anyone.
Other Female Streamers spammed "hugs and kisses, big bro, big bro," but she called them pups and even threw shade—who else could she blame for staying obscure?
Yet her style suited Jiang Cheng perfectly. Right then someone requested a live Connection (duet) with her room.
Qiao Yinyin checked the invite and reluctantly clicked accept.
On the other end appeared a Female Streamer in a deep-V camisole calling herself "Sister Biluo."
The beauty-filter looked a bit blurry; Jiang Cheng activated his scan on her.
[Name: Huang Ling]
[Age: 28]
[Height: 168 cm]
[Face-score: 55]
[Figure: 89]
[Privacy: 70]
[favorability value: 10 (passer-by state)
Jiang Cheng muttered "Damn—classic Qiao Biluo right there."
Heavy filters plus warped beauty-cam made her look 90+ on screen, yet her real face-score was only 55.
He had to marvel once more at the power of beauty software.
Sister Biluo beamed the moment she saw Qiao Yinyin, unable to hide her glee.
Covering her mouth in faux-cute fashion she said: "Oh, Sister Qiao, fancy meeting you! First random duet and I get you—will you carry me through round one like last time?"
Qiao Yinyin felt annoyed, but her track record spoke for itself: she'd never won a single PK duel.
Hence loads of Live Streaming Platform Streamers loved duelling her.
Fighting her meant a guaranteed win.
Though she usually didn't care, her guild had just called: win at least two duels this month or forfeit next month's perfect-attendance bonus.
She survived on that stipend plus her part-time chauffeur gigs.
Lose the bonus and she couldn't cover rent on her tiny apartment.
Qiao Yinyin forced a polite smile: "Hi—please ask your top supporter to go easy on me later."
"Hehe, no prob! Big Bro Dazhu, round one's in the bag—save your strength for the next round~~" Sister Biluo cooed to her champion.
Watching the charade, Jiang Cheng shook his head ready to leave, but the system piped up.
"Ding! Help Qiao Yinyin win the PK tournament and receive tip rebates—multiplier 1-50×!"
Fresh off a hundred-million cash-back, Jiang Cheng's interest was piqued.
Money was money—why refuse free cash?
He typed: "Little Streamer, PK's nearly over and you've only raked in five bucks? Brutal!"
Unfazed, Qiao Yinyin grinned: "Big Brother The Sea Calming Divine Needle, seeing me so pitiful, how about some consolation prize for medical bills?"
"A single dollar would probably land you on your weekly chart, right?"
The jab stung; she cracked: "Yeah… other rooms have Emperors, Dukes, Earls, Viscounts—mine doesn't even have a Knight, and the weekly chart…"
Usually she could comfort herself, but today's mockery plus guild pressure left her spirits low.
"Heh, I freeload and I'm proud! Not spending a cent."
"Huh? Looking down on us Free-Loaders?"
"I'm here to watch the Host lose!"
…
Reading the barrage, Qiao Yinyin rolled her eyes; she'd already decided to quit next month.
She streamed to earn money—if it cost more than it paid, why bother?
"Streamer, what's with the eye-roll?"
"Roll again and today's free flowers are gone."
"Was gonna spam fish-balls too."
"Host, are you ditching us?"
The Stream Viewers roasted in force.
Qiao Yinyin retorted: "You're seeing things—how could I ditch you? My chat's getting wittier by the day, full of talented folk…"
Jiang Cheng sent five "Weak-Chicken" gifts the moment she finished.
Five Weak-Chickens equaled one yuan; Qiao Yinyin gave a wry smile yet stood to thank him: "Thanks for the medical bills, Big Brother The Sea Calming Divine Needle."
Even a level-65 big shot turned stingy in her room—was she cursed?
"Streamer, what skills do you have?"
"Me? Does driving count? I usually work as a designated driver."
"Then if I carry your guild war, you be my chauffeur?"
She didn't take him seriously but nodded: "Deal, Big Brother The Sea Calming Divine Needle—if you secure me the title, I'll drive you free. I'm super steady, you can ride easy."
"Alright—tomorrow night I'll see just how steady you are."
Only a few dozen seconds remained in the PK.
Sister Biluo's tips had topped 300 yuan; Qiao Yinyin's side had scraped together just 20.
Seeing the nearly empty PK bar, Jiang Cheng selected three of the priciest 2,000-yuan Super Rockets and hurled them in.