CHAPTER 573: 391. HIS APPEARANCE

"Alright, everyone, tidy up the table. If there’s nothing else, let’s call it a day."

Golden Stone Media, meeting room.

In the absence of the boss, He Ying had no choice but to get up and clean up the mess for him.

A mess filled with mixed emotions.

As a perceptive girl, He Ying almost didn’t need to think much to see through everything from the expressions on the faces of the top female streamers sitting in the front row.

Ji Shu, wearing a hat, was the first to turn around, crossing her arms and pushing the chair away.

Despite her usual lazy expression, the slight press of her lips was very much a reaction of "I saw it coming."

Yu Qingyue beside her was even calmer, her eyes twinkling beneath her glasses. Her neat sweatshirt couldn’t hide her studious aura.

Unlike Ji Shu, who didn’t say a word, she came over to help He Ying pack up the projector, glimpsing the barrage at the end of the show overwhelming the laptop screen, while a slight smile appeared at her lips.

"Sister Ying, what do you think...how she must be feeling now?"

"I can’t say."

He Ying was taken aback, gently shaking her head.

"The way she’s doing it, her debut is more than guaranteed."

Yu Qingyue continued speaking to herself, keeping her voice low enough for only the two of them to hear.

"Her popularity, story, and influence are all full marks; she might really win the championship."

"Is taking such a big risk worth it?"

"I think Miao Miao’s approach is smart enough."

Seeing that the boss had no intention of returning anytime soon, the number of employees in the meeting room continued to dwindle.

Luo Shaoqin left, Luo Lang left, and even Lu Jincheng’s roommate Zhang Gaoqiang decided not to wait anymore, got up, and prepared to return to the dormitory.

Liu Yutong, arm in arm with Yang Wenjing, whispered to each other as they walked towards the door, stopping briefly to greet He Ying.

"What do you mean?"

Yu Qingyue closed the laptop, her watery eyes looking at He Ying.

"Didn’t you notice that when others answered this question, they either avoided it, stammered, or were ambiguous?"

He Ying straightened up, hitting the nail on the head.

"It’s because entering the entertainment industry, especially for newly debuted female stars, being exposed for dating or having someone they like, isn’t exactly forbidden, but would usually lose a wave of fans."

"These people are giving themselves a way out; male fans generally prefer purity. If you say you like someone, many might unfollow and lash out immediately, so what’s the point? In such occasions, who speaks the truth?"

"It’s just for show."

"But who would have thought Miao Miao would go the opposite way, not pretending with you, and directly going all out."

"Establishing a heartbroken puppy persona early, losing a batch of fans, and the remaining fans are dedicated and cohesive."

"If she enters the entertainment industry in the future, announcing early on to the world her steadfast loyalty and affection serves as a natural shield against sinister approaches."

"I see... but aren’t you worried she’ll mess it up?"

"Mr. Lu still has a girlfriend... Wouldn’t he be angry?"

Yu Qingyue adjusted her glasses subconsciously, further questioning.

"The show’s outcome might not be ideal, Mr. Lu’s girlfriend might get furious, the traffic might take a hit, and someone else might take the top position..."

"Perhaps to her, these things matter, but not as much."

He Ying paused, with an unexpected hint of admiration in her tone.

"But you know, as do I."

"Those close enough to him will eventually understand this truth."

"For Miao Miao, doing this might seem out of control to ordinary people, but Mr. Lu definitely wouldn’t be angry."

"He isn’t dominating us; he is leading us."

"As long as you work hard to present yourself to him, sharing all emotions and thoughts, he can assist you better."

"Then you would realize that he constantly gives without ever asking from us."

"More importantly is, can you truly be your real self even once?"

...

After seeing Zhong Ruixi back to the dormitory, Lu Jincheng returned alone to the Jiangnan Garden.

Block 14, Unit 1, 602.

The man took out his key and unlocked the door; the click of the lock was both unfamiliar and familiar.

This was the first house he bought after his rebirth.

And it was where Mou Keyan transformed from a regular campus influencer to the top streamer on Douyu’s official channel.

Opening the door and changing into slippers, within seconds, the exclusive scent of a girl rushed into his nostrils.

It was only then that Lu Jincheng realized a fact.

Unknowingly, Mou Keyan had stayed at Jiangnan Garden far more than he had.

He walked to the edge of the living room and opened a window, allowing moonlight to pour onto the milky white tiles.

In front of the ivory sofa lay a mixed blue and beige carpet, its hues softening to a backdrop in the man’s eyes, except for the striking portrait in the center.

That was a photo from the Douyu Carnival, where she stood in formal attire with the boss.

Feeling bored, the man wandered around the house.

From the living room to the bedroom and to Fairy Miao’s streaming room, the house had more electronic gadgets than even he had noticed.

For instance, the large HiFi speakers in the corner, the latest PS4, camera, and stand.

On a whim, he pressed the power on button on the streaming setup.

Mou Keyan’s desktop was remarkably neat.

The streaming equipment was prominently placed, pink dominating the layout, unmistakably a girl’s private realm.

Clicking around, Lu Jincheng unintentionally stumbled upon a deeply hidden folder.

It seemed to be streaming notes but with dates, almost like... a diary.

Indeed.

The most recent document was updated before moving into the Goddess Castle.

Lu Jincheng left-clicked gently, and the words unfolded plainly before him.

...

"2015.2"

Two days before joining the show crew, I came out from the community and happened to capture a crescent moon adorning the night sky, and sent it to him.

He didn’t reply as always; I suspect he might still be busy.

The streetlights outside Jiangnan Garden were old, tucking my phone away and heading back, the halo expanded just a bit behind me.

Not even home yet, I saw Rui Rui’s new update on the friend circle, attending a classmates’ gathering with him.

I looked up at the distant, towering streetlight, many tiny moths fluttering and hitting it, flickering as if unaware of any pain.

Those shadows pierced my eyes.

It was like the day he smiled at me, saying we had a working relationship.

That turn, those cold lips, are a dream I’d never want to wake from.

The dilapidated streetlight pierced through me, allowing my soul to find an outlet to reflect upon itself.

I cast the perfect version of him like a Sword of Damocles above my head, pushing myself forward relentlessly.

Without him, there would be no today’s me.

But having him, what have I become?