011 It's not necessary to have met before to feel like old friends upon meeting.
Looking at the new name "Solitary Shadow of the Cold River" added to her guardian list, Li Shuru realized she had acquired another financier in her live broadcast room.
"Thank you, Solitary Shadow of the Cold River, for your guardianship."
Her smile was ravishing, making her seem like a completely different person from the simple student at school.
That's right.
On one hand was a student in two different worlds, on the other, the patrons who ensured the high quality of her life—it's natural they wouldn't be receive the same attitude.
If her live broadcast room were a listed company, these guardians would be the board of directors, while ordinary fans would be the shareholders.
Fans might come and go, but unless something special happens, the guardians generally won't leave.
Therefore, hosts do their utmost to maintain relationships with their guardians.
To put it bluntly,
Guardians are the host's long-term meal ticket.
"Solitary Shadow of the Cold River, this guy seems like he's got a story."
"I've been following Shu Rui for a long time, and I don't think I've ever seen this big brother before."
"Big brother, come out and say something."
In this materialistic era, the wealthy are respected and worshiped everywhere.
However, "Solitary Shadow of the Cold River" was quite aloof, only discreetly activating the guardian status without uttering a word.
Li Shuru then sang a few more songs.
Solitary Shadow of the Cold River: Can I request a song?
Being a guardian wasn't entirely meaningless either.
At the very least, their messages came with a special indicator and wouldn't get drowned in the barrage of comments.
"Of course you can."
Li Shuru immediately nodded, "What song would you like to hear?"
Solitary Shadow of the Cold River didn't speak, this guy seemed to have a bit of a loner persona.
Just as Li Shuru wondered whether he was still in the room, suddenly fireworks began to fill the screen.
That's right.
Fireworks.
"My god! A Royal Salute?!"
The live broadcast room erupted into chaos.
A Royal Salute, valued at 66,666 Star Coins!
Which meant, in just four or five short seconds, more than six thousand, nearly seven thousand dollars, were gone just like that!
On the fan contribution leaderboard, the name "Solitary Shadow of the Cold River" shot up like a rocket.
Even Li Shuru couldn't help a flush spread across her cheeks, making her look even more charming and tantalizing.
As a host, who wouldn't be delighted to encounter such a wealthy patron?
"Solitary Shadow of the Cold River" sent a "Royal Salute".
After a brief interval,
Brilliant fireworks once again erupted in the live broadcast room, and this time they didn't cease.
"Solitary Shadow of the Cold River" sent a "Royal Salute".
"Solitary Shadow of the Cold River" sent a "Royal Salute".
"Solitary Shadow of the Cold River" sent a "Royal Salute".
...
The more than four thousand viewers in the live broadcast room were stunned, enjoying a firework feast that lasted nearly ten minutes.
"How much did this big brother send?"
"I've lost count."
"I specifically counted, it seems like almost two hundred..."
"Two hundred times 6666 equals... how much?"
"Over a million..."
Everyone was dumbfounded.
More than a million bucks just thrown in like that?
Even if you're rich, isn't this a bit much to splurge on?!
Just who was this Solitary Shadow of the Cold River?!!
Thanks to the frenzied acts of Solitary Shadow of the Cold River, the popularity of Li Shuru's live broadcast room soared, with countless people rushing into the room upon hearing the news; the number of online viewers quickly breached ten thousand.
"I'm here for the fireworks."
"Where's that godly person?"
"Bro, need any leg accessories?"
...
East Sea University.
Inside a dormitory in the west area.
Jiang Chen lay on his bed, looking at his phone, wondering if he had gone a bit too far with his antics.
Throwing away a million in just over ten minutes, the news had now shocked the entire Starry Sky. It spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred, and the popularity of Li Shuru's live stream had surprisingly squeezed into the top one hundred and was still climbing.
This won't do.
Time to withdraw.
Act done, I vanish, concealing both my identity and name.
Jiang Chen, who directly soared to the top of the contributor's list, exited the live stream room and checked his spendthrift balance.
A string of nines.
Almost no change.
Just as expected.
Though he couldn't consume for himself, as long as the money was spent on his target of pursuit, there were no issues whatsoever.
Recalling Li Shuru's bright smile towards him, along with the adulation and worship from the audience in the live stream room, Jiang Chen was filled with mixed feelings.
No wonder everyone is desperate to strike it rich.
This feeling of splurging money hand over fist was indeed fascinating.
————
"Brother Lone Jiang, are you still there?"
At this moment, inside the live stream room.
Everyone was greeting Lone Jiang, and Li Shuru, the host, ended up being just a foil.
However, Li Shuru didn't feel any resentment for being overshadowed; her mind was dazed, and in front of her, she seemed to still see the magnificent fireworks.
Following the rules of the Starry Sky APP's fifty-fifty revenue split.
She had conservatively estimated that she made five hundred thousand tonight, which was almost equivalent to her father's salary of nearly three years from the ordinary working class.
Most crucially, what she gained tonight wasn't just financial profit.
Looking at the live stream room with now over fifty thousand online viewers, Li Shuru felt her body heat up and her breathing became a bit short.
Before, she was just a small host with over a hundred thousand followers. Although she was quite impressive at East Sea University, in the grand scheme of Starry Sky, small internet celebrities like her were a dime a dozen, everywhere.
But after tonight, the situation could likely undergo a huge change.
Her follow count was rapidly rising.
The viewers were all trying to contact Lone Jiang, but Li Shuru understood that he had already left.
On the fans' contribution list, this person who had abruptly appeared took the crown with an overwhelming force and left everyone else in the dust.
Looking at the solitary and forlorn silhouette in the profile picture, Li Shuru couldn't help but be curious.
Who exactly could this person be?
"Shu RuiSonya has followed you."
Jiang Chen received a notification while scrolling through short videos.
He wasn't surprised at all.
Although he had coolly left after his grandstanding, as long as Li Shuru wasn't foolish, she would definitely not let him slip by.
"Hi, I really appreciate your support today, may I ask how to address you?"
Li Shuru initiated a private message.
Jiang Chen's mouth curved upward as he replied confidently,
"Why need we know each other when we meet?"
That fit the persona.
Li Shuru had probably never met someone like that.
Willing to bestow so many gifts on her, he must really like her, and yet, why was his attitude so aloof?
It was strange, but such a rare big spender was her lucky break; if she missed out, it would be a sin.
Seeing there was no immediate reply and the other side had gone silent, Jiang Chen's smile grew wider.
How the tables have turned.
In school, Li Shuru was a lofty goddess who didn't pay much attention to the boys, but now, she was the one initiating contact with him, and she might even be carefully speculating about his background and personality.
Would the campus belle react if she knew that the "number one big brother" who had given her the chance at great wealth and opportunity was the very sycophant she scrupulously avoided?
"Is it possible to add you on WeChat?"
After a dozen seconds, Shu RuiSonya sent another message.
Staring at the chat box, Jiang Chen couldn't help but think of the scene from the previous night at KIMI's and was filled with emotion.
How proud was she when he asked for her contact information?
"There's no need for now."
Upon reading the reply, Li Shuru's heart skipped a beat. Casting aside all pretense of pride, she immediately typed, "Why not?"
After the message was sent, it sunk like a stone into the sea, with no further response.