Pei Yujang knew that Yu Zhiwan had money, but she didn't expect her to be so generous in spending it on her. At first, she was instinctively a bit surprised, but then she thought it was not worth it. She poked Yu Zhiwan and whispered:
"The platform takes a fifty percent cut..."
Since Lime is a contracted streamer on this platform, he earns quite a bit from tips. Generally, platform-contracted streamers get at least a 40/60 split, with the platform taking 40% and the streamer getting 60%. Pei Yujang hadn't signed with the platform, so out of the thousand deep-sea torpedoes Yu Zhiwan sent, five hundred went to the platform, which made her feel a bit distressed.
But Yu Zhiwan didn't care and even knocked on the table unhappily, saying in a sweet voice:
"I don't want you to sing for anyone else."
Pei Yujang initially thought it might be impolite not to sing, but seeing Yu Zhiwan's slightly pouting red lips, she couldn't bring herself to say anything in refusal.
After all, it wasn't necessary to upset the heroine over some unpleasant streamer.
Pei Yujang responded with an "Mm" and was about to explain to Lime when she heard knocking at the door again. This time, it was Pei Jinhuai's assistant, standing at the door without entering and politely calling out:
"Minister Pei, President Pei is looking for you."
The "President Pei" the assistant mentioned was naturally Pei Jinhuai. When Pei Jinhuai sought her out at the company, it usually meant there was something important. Upon hearing this, Pei Yujang immediately stood up, intending to end the livestream, but Yu Zhiwan seemed to sense her intention and lightly patted the back of her hand:
"You go ahead, I'll handle it."
Only then did Pei Yujang belatedly remember that she had almost forgotten about Yu Zhiwan, her subordinate, who was supposed to assist her in the livestream. So, she also patted Yu Zhiwan's shoulder gently and said softly:
"Then, I'm leaving?"
Yu Zhiwan responded crisply.
Before leaving, Pei Yujang thoughtfully adjusted the microphone and camera angles, so that Yu Zhiwan wouldn't need to move and could continue in front of the camera.
The back-and-forth between the two didn't go unnoticed by Lime and the viewers. After Pei Yujang finally left, Lime was about to start a battle with Yu Zhiwan, but then Yu Zhiwan, who had been sweet and soft-spoken in front of Pei Yujang, suddenly turned cold.
"Where did this shameless bum come from? Couldn't find a place to act out in real life, so you had to come online to be an eyesore?"
Yu Zhiwan's words were blunt and harsh, clearly transmitted to Lime's ears through the microphone.
Lime wasn't known for having a good temper. After being repeatedly humiliated by her words, he could no longer hold back and almost burst out:
"You...!"
Remembering that this was a livestream, he swallowed the rest of his words, but his gaze toward Yu Zhiwan was full of murderous intent.
Lime was an Omega, and most male Omegas are quite normal, rarely talking in a high-pitched voice while wearing borderline female clothing like he did, making him seem neither here nor there.
Although Pei Yujang wasn't an Alpha, her appearance alone was more attractive to Omegas than many Alphas. Lime had been paying attention to her for a long time. Even though Pei Yujang didn't list her gender in her profile, Lime instinctively guessed from her imposing appearance that she should be an A.
And not just any A, but a high-level one.
So, when he first saw Yu Zhiwan appear on camera, he felt an intense sense of crisis.
Lime had already prepared a set of lines. If he lost the PK to Pei Yujang, he would suggest playing some flirty games with her, and if he won, it didn't matter—he would find a way to get her contact information. After all, there were many ways to strike up a conversation.
But he never expected someone so formidable to show up halfway through.
Yu Zhiwan clearly saw through his intentions and immediately exited the stream after the PK ended without even saying goodbye.
When Pei Yujang returned after finishing her business, she saw that her livestream had already ended. Yu Zhiwan was sitting there idly playing with her nails. She only looked up when she heard the door open:
"The PK ended, and I didn't know what else to do. I couldn't see the chat messages, so I shut it down and went offline. Is that okay?"
Pei Yujang glanced at the time:
"It's fine. I've been streaming for a long time anyway. Go get ready; we'll be heading out soon."
The music festival had events on both Friday and Saturday. Friday's event was at 3:00 PM, and Saturday's was around the same time. But since it was the weekend, not everyone wanted to spend their rest day on a team-building activity, so Pei Yujang simply chose the Friday tickets.
The festival lasted three hours, and they were set to leave a little after 2:00 PM, which meant they would arrive just as it started. It was like getting a half-day off. Afterward, a company bus would take everyone to designated drop-off points, like subway stations, so they could head straight home.
This event was personally organized by Pei Yujang, and the employees had no complaints, instead being quite happy to get a half-day off to attend the music festival. The atmosphere at Yue Rong was great, with everyone chatting and laughing.
As Pei Yujang left, she even saw someone greet her, a stark contrast to how things had been for the original host.
In the past, whenever the original host came to the company, it was either to cause trouble or to take advantage of attractive Omegas. Those who were even slightly good-looking avoided her like the plague.
Now, Pei Yujang had transformed into a normal person, though the change had been gradual, so there wasn't much suspicion.
Everyone thought that after the last crisis at Yue Rong, Pei Yujang had matured. Without the influence of her bad friends, she was now brimming with energy and no longer gave off the sinister vibe that had previously made people dislike her.
Yu Zhiwan asked, "Is the company taking a bus together?"
"Yes, the company is providing a shuttle, but we'll take our own car. Aunt Fan and my mom will be taking Jiang Wenxiu and her classmate in one car, and we'll be in another," Pei Yujang explained in detail. "But if you want, you can also bring Zhao Manlin."
Riding the company bus certainly wasn't as comfortable as taking a private car. Pei Yujang asked Zhao Manlin, and she quickly packed up and joined them in the office.
Yu Zhiwan didn't have many close friends; aside from Pei Yujang, Zhao Manlin was the only one. When Zhao Manlin first met Yu Zhiwan, she had protected her. Later, she was worried when she saw Yu Zhiwan leave Liu Huanran and get involved with Pei Yujang, but as Pei Yujang gradually changed, her impression improved, and she became less wary.
The drive to the stadium took about half an hour, and the three of them chatted about all sorts of things. Pei Yujang listened to Zhao Manlin's stories about their university life with great interest.
Zhao Manlin mentioned how Yu Zhiwan received scholarships every year during university, which covered her tuition and living expenses.
"Actually, Wanwan was quite remarkable back then. If she could have continued, she would have achieved even more."
At this, Zhao Manlin sighed. Although her own academic performance wasn't bad, she still couldn't compare to a true top student like Yu Zhiwan. Yu Zhiwan's ability to learn was far above that of most people, but when it came to awards, she was content with what she had achieved.
Even though Zhao Manlin was close to Yu Zhiwan, she didn't know much about her past. Pei Yujang, however, did. Afraid that Yu Zhiwan might feel sad, she quickly changed the subject to something else.
"I wasn't a good student, so don't talk about awards in front of me!"
Pei Yujang wasn't lying; in her time, only the most basic education was provided, just enough to ensure literacy. She had never truly attended school, so she was naturally different from these top students from prestigious universities.
Yu Zhiwan seemed to think of something and chuckled.
The music festival, with its thousands of attendees, looked like a sea of people from a distance. Just getting in was quite a hassle. It was Pei Yujang's first time attending, and she felt relieved multiple times for booking a VIP box, avoiding the need to crowd in for ticket checks.
The stars performing at the festival usually had their own support materials, but it was rare for entire companies like theirs to come for team-building; most of the attendees were individual fans. Not far from the entrance, Pei Yujang saw two fans with different colored light signs arguing with security. It turned out that light signs weren't allowed, and some fans were trying to sneak them in to support their idols.
"We'll go that way."
Pei Yujang maneuvered her wheelchair, pulling Yu Zhiwan toward her side to avoid getting separated by the crowd.
Pei Jinhuai and Fan Zhaozhao, the married couple, were also with them, not far away. They weren't into chasing celebrities; they were just there for the atmosphere.
"Fans of these stars are really crazy. I even saw fights breaking out at events like this online," Fan Zhaozhao remarked to Pei Jinhuai as she handed their tickets to the staff leading them. "Do you think Yujang will have people fighting over her now that she's become an online celebrity?"
Pei Yujang was a bit thirsty. She had just opened a bottle and was taking a sip when she almost spat it out upon hearing that. She quickly pulled Yu Zhiwan away.
They hadn't gone out of their way to arrive early, so they got there just as the rehearsal was ending and the official event was about to start. The dazzling lights filled the venue, far surpassing anything she had seen in KTVs or bars.
Fruit platters were ready, along with some snacks, specifically prepared for them to enjoy during the concert. Pei Yujang comfortably settled onto the small sofa in their box and realized the design was excellent. They could see everything clearly without obstructing anyone, and they weren't too close to the speakers. Pei Yujang had done some research and heard that sitting too close to the speakers could cause a bit of ringing in the ears.
The music festival began promptly. After the host introduced the lineup, the cheers from the audience were deafening.
At first, Pei Yujang didn't quite understand the hype, but after the first performer finished, she couldn't help but join in the applause.
Even though she didn't know the singer, she quickly became engrossed in the all-live music feast. The second performer was a girl group whose lively and fiery dance instantly ignited the whole venue. Pei Yujang couldn't help but sway gently to the music and turned her head to look at Yu Zhiwan beside her.
Unfortunately, she couldn't see the dance.
The thought flashed through her mind, and not wanting to leave any regrets, Pei Yujang began describing the performance to Yu Zhiwan, just like before, though she could only do so between songs to avoid interrupting her auditory experience.
The artists invited to the music festival were all talented, regardless of their fame. Since lip-syncing was not allowed, they had to perform live. By the time the fourth guest appeared, Pei Yujang's mood had completely changed from when she first arrived.
She realized that the names announced earlier were just in alphabetical order but were actually shuffled. The next performer was Fang Nianjing.
Fang Nianjing was dressed in a pure white, floor-length gown, simple and elegant, with no extra embellishments, but her slender waist and broad shoulders carried it well. For this music festival, she had even dyed her hair a light blonde, which, paired with the white gown, enhanced her aura.
Her usual style was more of a mature, cool woman, but this soft long dress gave her a distinctly cold beauty. With the snowflake effects behind her, she looked like a fairy stepping out of a winter wonderland.
Even in early spring, the venue wasn't cold, with the air conditioning on. This song had some simple dance moves, and as Fang Nianjing did a wave, she revealed her snow-white, rounded shoulder. Below the shoulder, there was a faint trace of a tattoo, and the fans' enthusiastic cheers surged. Amid the waves of noise, Fang Nianjing pulled her dress back up, her movements a bit quick, but it didn't detract from her earlier grace.
Pei Yujang pinched a peanut, cracked the shell, and let the rosy skin and white kernel fall into her palm before tossing it into her mouth to savor. After finishing, she commented:
"Although Fang Nianjing is an actress, her singing is quite good."
Although she wasn't as professional as the singers, considering she was crossing over from acting, she had done very well. Pei Yujang had a good impression of her. From the last incident, it didn't seem like Fang Nianjing or Chen Lulu knew anything about what was really going on.
Yu Zhiwan didn't usually talk much during the music festival, mostly quietly enjoying the songs, but for the first time, she asked:
"Have you heard of 'Desperate Jing San Niang'?"
Pei Yujang hadn't. She really hadn't followed the entertainment industry at all.
Now it was intermission, and the host was leading the previous performers in some games to warm up the crowd. Yu Zhiwan began to explain:
"'Desperate Jing San Niang' is Fang Nianjing's nickname. She joined the industry about three or four years ago, before she even graduated from university, discovered by a talent scout. After joining, she quickly gained a fanbase due to her looks and signed with a subsidiary of a big company that wasn't very prominent."
"Later, she worked tirelessly, taking on various small roles, starting as a maid and eventually landing a third lead role after impressing a director with her dedication—doing stunts, rolling in the mud, jumping into rivers in the dead of winter, all to make her scenes more realistic."
"That show flopped, but Fang Nianjing unexpectedly gained a lot of attention thanks to a viral edit highlighting her beauty. It's said that her face is very expressive and unforgettable, which quickly boosted her popularity. Many people watched the show just for her. While the main characters were criticized for their lack of morals, she played a beautiful, independent woman, a strong and elegant CEO. Since then, her company has branded her with the image of the 'Dream A.'"
"In other words, she has a lot of girlfriend fans. She started out popular for her looks but also put in a lot of hard work."
This was the first time Pei Yujang had heard Yu Zhiwan talk about entertainment gossip, and she listened with interest. Looking at the audience, even though it was a music festival, there were quite a few fans holding support banners for Fang Nianjing.
It seemed she was quite popular.
Fang Nianjing was indeed very beautiful. Pei Yujang was confident in her own looks, and Fang Nianjing, like her, had a strong, refined appearance, though Fang Nianjing's was more aloof, making her seem like an unattainable flower, easily attracting young Omega girls.
Suddenly, Pei Yujang thought, according to the unwritten rules of the entertainment industry, idols who rely on their fans and are rising stars can't date. If they do, they'll face a backlash. What about Fang Nianjing? Could she date freely?
"Who knows?"
When she asked, Yu Zhiwan shrugged, indicating she didn't know. But Fang Nianjing, who looked so out of touch with reality, didn't seem like someone who would be interested in Omegas. Pei Yujang occasionally saw news about her online, and it mostly mentioned how she was unapproachable and hard to flirt with.
The next performance began, and Pei Yujang didn't pay much attention to Fang Nianjing anymore, instead eagerly watching the stage. Halfway through, she suddenly remembered she had forgotten to record a vlog and hastily pulled out her phone.
Pei Yujang filmed a bit of the singer on stage, turned the volume up, and clearly captured the singing on her phone. She also recorded the snacks on their table, then nudged Yu Zhiwan with her elbow, silently asking if she could be in the shot.
Yu Zhiwan's way of appearing on camera was to lean her head toward Pei Yujang, who accidentally knocked her over and quickly steadied her.
The festival's excitement kept building, and Pei Yujang, after shooting a few clips, turned off her phone and immersed herself in the atmosphere, cheering and clapping along with the crowd, enjoying it even more than the person who had invited her, Yu Zhiwan.
As the final song approached, in the midst of the crowd's enthusiastic cheers, Yu Zhiwan tugged on Pei Yujang's wrist, signaling for her to bend down.
The two had known each other for so long that they naturally had a good understanding of each other. From the way Yu Zhiwan tugged, Pei Yujang could roughly guess what she wanted and leaned down to her ear, feeling the warm breath of the Omega brushing past.
"When it's over, let's have a meal. Boss Ji is back, and we'll dine with her."
Pei Yujang wasn't particularly fond of Boss Ji and was surprised, but then she thought that if she refused, Yu Zhiwan would end up alone with Boss Ji, which was even worse.
While she was hesitating, Yu Zhiwan whispered again:
"Oh, and I have a gift for you."
Just as Yu Zhiwan finished speaking, Pei Yujang felt a slight tingling sensation in her earlobe, the pain fleeting as she instinctively hissed and reached up to touch it. She found a small ear cuff in the shape of a star.
She didn't have pierced ears, so the ear cuff hurt a bit when she first put it on, but she quickly got used to it. Just as she was about to take it off, her fingers were gently covered by Yu Zhiwan's delicate hand. Amid the lively music, the Omega's soft neck brushed against her, like a feather tickling her skin, making her itch.
"Boss Ji isn't really coming." A smile spread across Yu Zhiwan's lips as she watched Pei Yujang's fair earlobe turn pink. The flickering lights stung her eyes a bit, but she only found the person in front of her adorable. "Happy birthday, this part is true."