010 Lonely Shadow on the Cold River

"Si Yi, you actually bought this bracelet?"

The girls' dormitory.

A few girls gathered around Xu Siyi, admiring the gold bracelet she had just purchased.

"What do you think, pretty, isn't it?"

Xu Siyi wore the bracelet on her wrist and gave it a shake.

"It's lovely. How much was it?"

"Not expensive, just over seven thousand."

Xu Siyi said nonchalantly.

That's right.

The market price for that gold bracelet was indeed over seven thousand, but she had only asked Jiang Chen for five thousand five hundred because she felt that's all the money that bootlicker had in his pocket.

"You're really generous."

The girls expressed their envy.

Those studying art usually don't come from poor families, but seven thousand was still a significant amount for them, who were third-year university students.

"I asked for it from my parents too."

Xu Siyi said with a smile, not mentioning a word about Jiang Chen's "contribution."

"Your parents are so good to you. If I asked mine for something this expensive, I'd be in for a serious scolding."

"Guo Ran, stop bragging. You just spent a good amount of money on makeup last week, didn't you?"

"Isn't makeup a necessity? Don't you buy it?"

"I don't necessarily have to buy brand names."

"Alright, the one we should really be learning from is Shu Rui. She's been independent and self-sufficient for a while now."

Upon hearing this, Xu Siyi looked towards Li Shuru's spot and noticed she wasn't there.

"Where's Shu Rui?"

"She probably went back to her rented place. Today, the whole place has been buzzing with her and Jiang Chen's affair; she's probably annoyed and didn't want to stay on campus."

By the third year, the school's oversight wasn't as strict, and many of the students who could afford it rented houses outside the campus, convenient for dating or simply for more peace and quiet.

Li Shuru was renting a single room nearby, and the monthly rent was over three thousand.

"Shu Rui really is impressive. It hasn't even been two months since she started live streaming, and she's already got over a hundred thousand followers. Who knows, she might become a major internet celebrity before she even graduates."

"Jin Jin, aren't you also making videos every day? How many followers do you have now?"

Obviously.

Li Shuru's success had shown these girls a shortcut to success, and they all wanted to emulate her, but sometimes fate has different plans for different people.

"I'm just doing that for fun."

The girl was a bit embarrassed.

After chatting for a while, the girls dispersed to attend to their own business.

After admiring the newly acquired bracelet for a while, Xu Siyi cheerfully lifted her foot to start applying nail polish. At the same time, she casually opened the Starry Sky APP to watch live streams.

After painting one foot, she looked up, swiped the screen, and ended up entering Li Shuru's live stream.

Everyone knew that Li Shuru was live streaming on Starry Sky, and they were also aware that Li Shuru was earning a handsome income from the Starry Sky APP. They were too shy to ask how much, but judging from Li Shuru's spending habits, it was clear that she was making at least ten to twenty thousand a month.

Envy is a natural human emotion.

Good friends are no exception.

Seeing over two thousand live viewers in the streaming room, Xu Siyi felt inexplicably irritable.

Then, she thought of the infamous bootlicker at the school.

Although she was well aware that the bootlicker had no chance of success, if he kept pestering Li Shuru, it would at least cause her some embarrassment, right?

It seemed that the bootlicker had sent her a message that afternoon too.

With that thought, Xu Siyi put down her foot and picked up her cellphone.

Before long.

A fan named "Lone Shadow of Han River" entered the live stream.

At this time, the number of online viewers in Li Shuru's live streaming room was approaching three thousand, and the entrance of "Lone Shadow of Han River" was like throwing a pebble into the ocean—unable to stir up even the slightest ripple.

Li Shuru was wearing a red dress, her long hair black and shining. Naturally beautiful, with the addition of the camera's beautifying effects, she did not look inferior to any celebrity.

And she knew how to use her advantages well: the live broadcast camera captured the proud curves of her chest and the glimpses of her snow-white thighs under the hem of her skirt that were intermittently visible.

"So this is what it feels like to have a crush, like your heart has been touched by static electricity."

"I strongly suggest that the streamer doesn't go out without a reason; it's way too easy to be followed by some creep. I lost track of one just yesterday."

"If I could have a girlfriend like this, I'd gladly live twenty years less."

"Dream on, without a fan card, how could Shu Rui ever take notice of a poor loser like you?"

While commenting, this "Inner Ring Road's Takeshi Kaneshiro" sent off a Firework Tube.

The Firework Tube is a type of gift used in live streaming rooms to express affection for the streamer, valued at 200 Star Coins.

According to the exchange rate of ten to one between Star Coins and RMB, a Firework Tube is equal to 20 RMB.

"Damn, twenty bucks, are you kidding me?"

The guy who was made fun of as a poor loser immediately got angry and quickly sent a "Bicycle of Love" worth 100 bucks.

Li Shuru continued singing, oblivious to the jealousy between her fans.

For streamers, such rivalry was obviously beneficial, as gifts constituted a significant part of their income.

The more gifts they received, the higher the streamer's earnings would be.

"But unfortunately, the wind gradually blows the distance so far..."

Although Li Shuru majored in dance, her singing was also quite impressive; she sang "Sunny Day" effortlessly and with charm.

"Rich Young Master" sent over a "Private Jet."

As the song ended, the screens of everyone in the live room displayed a roaring jet.

A Private Jet, valued at 5000 Star Coins, which is 500 RMB.

"Rich V5!"

"Rich Young Master is here!"

"Still, it's Rich Young Master who slays!"

Suddenly,

a long series of sycophantic comments appeared endlessly in the barrage.

Clearly, this Rich Young Master was a celebrity in Li Shuru's live room.

If one paid close attention, one would find this "Rich Young Master" on Li Shuru's fan contribution leaderboard, ranked among the top.

"Thank you for the jet, Rich Young Master."

This time, Li Shuru didn't ignore it but sincerely expressed her gratitude with an enchanting smile.

After all, isn't the attention of the streamer what gift givers seek?

The onlookers were all excited, and their comments became even more enthusiastic.

"Rich Young Master" sent over a "Yacht."

A Yacht, costing 8888 Star Coins, which is nearly 900 bucks.

"Thanks for your support, Rich Young Master. What song would you like to hear?"

Li Shuru remained professional; although she was cold and prideful at school, she showed no attitude towards such a powerful and loyal fan, her smile as radiant as a blooming rose.

"Anything is fine, you sound good singing anything."

Rich Young Master commented.

The fans below kept throwing out song titles, hoping to "snag a bargain."

"Then I'll sing..."

Li Shuru was just about to speak when suddenly, a tip floated across the live room.

"Lone Shadow on the Cold River" has activated the Guardian role for "Shu Rui Sonya."

A Guardian, unlike a gift, is another form of support for the streamer and is rather expensive—a thousand bucks for a month, and you have to renew when it expires.

Therefore, only if someone really adores the streamer will they become a Guardian.

However, the number of Guardians often serves as a measure of a streamer's "power."

Li Shuru had 140,000 fans but only about twenty-something Guardians in her live room.

Giving gifts occasionally is no big deal.

But to spend so much for a Guardian badge with no practical meaning, one must either be daft or truly wealthy.