Livestream
To Lenny's surprise, the captioned cat video had gotten 11,501 views and 870 likes, while the other non-captioned cat video earned 3,070 views and 220 likes.
Lenny scratched his chin and voiced, "The cat was still in focus the way I see it, but the captioned video was the one that still got most of the traction. For the Go Viral app utility, I think the content of the video is what matters, no matter the account."
However, despite the reception on the cat videos, he saw that the number of followers he received on the account was a mere 49.
Lenny scratched his chin some more.
'…Huh, I guess the type of content on the page and subsequent videos also mean a lot in converting viewers to followers. I wonder if I can increase my V-Score this way…'
Seeing the experiment was successful, Lenny nodded thoughtfully and decided, "I've got to become a content creator. In case I don't achieve first place on the leaderboard, I have a plan B."
Knock Knock~
Just then, he heard a light rap come from his apartment door.
Lenny cautiously went over. Looking through the peephole, he saw it was Mike, the brown-skinned social media influencer.
"Lenny, you in?" Mike called out as he knocked.
Lenny, still in his vest and briefs, opened the door and cautiously greeted, "Mike, what's up?"
Witnessing Lenny's able and healthy body, and ignoring the yellowed white vest tucked partly in the briefs, Mark was slightly taken aback before letting out a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness, you're alright," he muttered and asked, "What was that about yesterday?"
'…That's right. Mike came in that time when Boss Falcone was here…' Lenny simply smiled.
"Just some bad luck with some people again, don't worry."
Mike, wearing a black hood and sporting stylish dreadlocks hanging down the sides of his face, worriedly asked, "I mean, are you sure you're okay? Because those men didn't look simple."
Lenny still didn't divulge, and just said, "Yeah, man. I settled them already."
Mike sighed. "Okay. I was actually feeling bad for running away and leaving you back then."
Lenny's expression softened. "Oh, don't be. It's trouble I brought on myself, so I would've felt bad if you got roped in for no reason…"
He paused and thought for a few seconds then inquired, "Actually, Mike, I'm thinking of becoming a content creator so I can make some steady cash on the side. Do you have any ideas on the type of short-form content I can try?"
Mike, standing at a height of 6'1, contemplated for a few seconds before answering, "You can try live streaming. You can take intriguing parts from the live streams and make them short videos. This is actually what I do since, well, being a short content creator is hardly profitable."
Lenny nodded. Thinking about it, Mike was right about short-form content not being as profitable compared to long-form content. However, short-form content did have a higher level of virality and chance of receiving traffic. The idea was that, if he took intriguing parts of his long-form content and made it a short clip, he could drive viewers to his long-form content easily.
"Not bad. Any tips on how I can start?"
Mike smiled and suggested, "Why don't you join my livestream and let me show you the ropes? I'll go live soon…"
Lenny agreed to join Mike's stream, so he went back in, freshened up, and knocked on the apartment door directly opposite his.
At 12:01 PM, Mike went live on WiTube Live with Lenny at his side.
Facing the camera, positioned on a stand behind a regular desktop with an additional monitor, Mike smiled and greeted, "Yooooo chat! It's your boy, MykeSpyder, the one and only Mr. Flex-flex! And today, I'm here with my good boy, Lenny."
Feeling awkward being captured by a camera, Lenny sheepishly raised his hand and waved, "Hi. I'm Lenny… Lenny Park."
Enthusiastically, Mike continued, "Today, we're gonna bring you guys some awesome reactions. My boy Lenny here is testing the ropes in streaming, so try to be nice guys."
— @Hambruno: Oki Spydie :D
— @Loyalilian: No! F**k you, Leni! Hahaha…
— @Topsmug: Leni, more like smelly, hehehe...
— @John_See_You: Guys, don't be rude.
Lenny casually read the live comments, and the corner of his brows twitched a little.
'...They're most likely kids.'
He glanced at the number of current viewers, which gradually grew and oscillated between 50 and 55 at the moment.
'...I'm hungry. I'll order some food later,' Lenny thought as he watched Mike click on a short video on WiTube with the title: "People who brag about having a loyal girlfriend," by creator Tra Rags.
…
In a glossy black Mercedes Benz C-300 parked at a distance from the red-bricked apartment building, Andre Jug and Lizard Liu observed the structure.
Before long, they spotted a delivery man stopping in front of the targeted apartment complex.
Swiftly, they disembarked from the vehicle and intercepted the delivery man.
"Who's the delivery for?" Jug inquired, his tone carrying an air of intimidation.
Startled by the sudden question from these imposing figures, the young delivery man stammered, "S-Some dude named Steven."
Returning to the car, Lizard Liu kicked the tire and cursed with frustration, "Dammit, when will that bastard show up? I want to rip his arms off!"
Casting a glance at him before entering the driver's seat, Andre Jug asked, "What did he do to you, exactly?"
Lizard Liu arrogantly replied with a touch of shame, "You— You don't have to know! Just mind your business and keep your eyes peeled for the bastard."
Bzzzz~
Just then, Lizard Liu's phone rang. Putting it up to his ear, he answered the call, "Yes, Boss?"
The calm voice on the other end, seemingly amidst a loud and windy environment, queried, "Is he in?"
"We're not sure. However, there was a delivery man just here. He had a delivery for a Steven," Lizard Liu said.
Boss Falcone nodded. "That's the kiddo's middle name. I'll be over there soon."
Pim.
Ending the call, Boss Falcone turned to the suited men behind him who were filling a large oil barrel with concrete, along with two other barrels.
Standing at the edge of the harbor, he oversaw them as they loaded the barrels onto a waiting cargo ship.