As a livestreamer who had built her fame through hilarious and lighthearted daily content, Aurora Harper's broadcasts were usually full of cheer and energy. Yet, in recent days, she couldn't shake the feeling that her viewers were starting to lose interest. The steady decline in engagement was like a small cloud of anxiety hanging over her, pushing her to brainstorm new ideas that might reignite her audience's enthusiasm.
"Seems like the fans' interest has dropped a bit lately…" she muttered to herself, her brows furrowing with worry. Anxiety twisted her gut, but she quickly tried to shove it aside, refusing to let it take over.
And then, as if struck by divine inspiration, Aurora shot upright on her couch, her eyes lighting up with sudden excitement. "Wait a second! Aren't couple interaction streams the biggest craze right now? If we pretend to be a couple and stream our everyday antics… it'll be a total hit!"
Her gaze fell on Sebastian Cole, who sat nearby, completely engrossed in a thick novel. Sebastian was her neighbor and one of her closest friends—a man of few words but many charms. His striking good looks combined with a steady, composed demeanor made him the epitome of a classic heartthrob. He was the kind of guy who exuded quiet strength, the type whose presence alone could calm a storm. Putting someone like him in front of the camera alongside her exuberant personality would make for the perfect recipe for comedic gold.
"Sebastian!" Aurora exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement as she leaned forward and smacked his shoulder. "I just came up with an absolutely brilliant idea for our next livestream!"
Sebastian looked up from his book, his gray-blue eyes narrowing with mild suspicion. He had gotten used to Aurora's sudden bursts of energy and knew from experience that her "brilliant" ideas often led to chaos. "What now?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with wariness.
Aurora wasted no time, grabbing her phone and waving it in his face. "Look! Everyone's obsessed with funny couple streams these days! If we pretend to be a couple, our fans will go wild!"
Sebastian followed her pointing finger and examined the screen, which was filled with a flood of comments and fan interactions from popular couple streams. His brows knitted together as he processed her idea, the corners of his mouth pulling downward. He let out a deep sigh, setting his book aside as he leaned back into the couch. "Pretend to be a couple?" he repeated, his voice flat. "You can't be serious."
"I'm completely serious!" Aurora's eyes sparkled with determination. "Picture this: we film our daily lives as a 'couple.' I'll be the one doing silly, goofy stuff, and you'll be your usual, cool self. Fans will eat it up! Besides, my engagement numbers have taken a hit recently…" Her voice wavered, betraying a touch of genuine worry.
Sebastian studied her face for a moment, and despite the humor of the situation, a wave of empathy washed over him. Most people saw Aurora as a carefree, almost reckless spirit, but he knew how much her career meant to her. Every subscriber, every click, every moment her content was watched meant the world to her. The weight of those dreams—and the pressure that came with them—was something she rarely shared with others.
"Do you really think it'll work?" he asked, his tone softer now, almost gentle.
"I know it will!" Aurora said, her voice rising again, full of newfound energy. "And besides, you're so handsome that just having you in front of the camera will make our viewers swoon! Seriously, with your looks, they'll be lining up to watch."
A reluctant smile ghosted across Sebastian's lips. "I may be handsome," he said dryly, "but are you sure you want me involved in this… circus?"
"Of course!" Aurora threw an arm around his shoulders, leaning in playfully. "Don't worry, leave all the comedy to me! You just have to look stoic and handsome."
Sebastian closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. The entire concept seemed ridiculous, but he couldn't ignore the earnest hope shining in Aurora's eyes. She looked at him with so much expectation that he felt his resistance crumbling. "Alright," he said finally. "We can give it a try."
"Yes! I knew you'd come through!" Aurora leaped to her feet, brimming with enthusiasm. She grabbed her phone and immediately began setting up the stream.
When the Stream Went Live:
"Hey there, my amazing viewers!" Aurora greeted the camera with her signature bright smile. "Welcome back to the stream! Today, we have something super special planned: The Fake Couple Daily Life Challenge!" She shot a playful look at Sebastian, who sat beside her, his expression a flawless mask of composed indifference. The contrast was immediate and striking, and within seconds, the livestream chat exploded.
Who's the hot guy? He's gorgeous!
Aurora's craziness paired with Mr. Stone-Face over here? This is gonna be epic!
The dynamic between these two is hilarious!
Aurora grinned at the chat and continued, "Our first challenge as a 'couple' is to tackle the daily life of living together. And what better way to start than by cooking a meal together?"
Sebastian's eyebrow quirked up ever so slightly, his skepticism on full display. "Are you sure we're capable of that?" he asked, his voice laced with doubt.
"Absolutely!" Aurora clapped her hands, her confidence unwavering. "You'll handle the cooking, and I'll be your trusty sidekick!"
Sebastian sighed, but the sound was more resigned than irritated. Rising from the couch, he made his way to the kitchen, already anticipating disaster. He opened the refrigerator and stared at the haphazard array of ingredients, feeling a sense of doom settle over him. After a moment of deliberation, he pulled out a few eggs and a bag of black rice, silently praying that this wouldn't end in complete catastrophe.
"What are you making?" Aurora leaned over his shoulder, her curiosity barely contained.
"Black rice porridge," he replied, beginning to prep the ingredients with methodical precision.
Ten minutes later, Aurora was staring into a pot of what could only be described as a thick, inky mess. Her face twisted into an expression of horror. "What… what is that?" she stammered.
Sebastian remained perfectly calm. "Black rice porridge," he repeated, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Aurora's eyes narrowed at the dubious concoction, her lips quirking in disbelief. "Are you sure this isn't… coal soup?"
The chat erupted into a frenzy:
What is that monstrosity? LOL!
This kitchen disaster is gold!
These two are an absolute mess, I love it!
Sebastian glanced at the overwhelming tide of amused comments and sighed again, his composure never faltering. "How about we just order takeout?" he suggested dryly.
"Brilliant idea!" Aurora chirped, turning back to the camera. "See, guys? This is what our 'romantic' couple life is all about—ordering takeout together. Isn't that the most realistic thing ever?"
The chat erupted once more: This fake couple act is too funny!
Sebastian looks so done with everything, poor guy!
Sebastian rubbed his temples, already regretting agreeing to this chaotic plan. But seeing Aurora's unbridled joy, he couldn't stay frustrated for long.
After the Stream Ended:
Aurora eagerly pulled up the livestream analytics, her heart pounding. When she saw the skyrocketing engagement numbers, she practically jumped for joy. "I knew it would be a hit!" she exclaimed, spinning around to face Sebastian.
He watched her celebration with a bemused expression. "It was really that good?" he asked, still unconvinced.
"Absolutely!" She thrust her phone in his direction, showing him the stats. "Look at this! The comments, the viewership—it's all off the charts! People love our 'fake couple' routine!"
Sebastian studied the numbers, and although he nodded in acknowledgment, a quiet unease lingered in his mind. Sure, their audience loved the show, but he wondered just how long this game of pretend could go on before lines started to blur.