A comfortable silence settled in the grand hall as Li Feng and Chen sat on the plush sofas. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the polished marble floor. Just then, a soft knock on the door interrupted their reverie. A young maid, her uniform crisp and white, entered the room.
"Master," she announced with a respectful bow, "you haven't had anything to eat since the morning. Chef has prepared some light snacks and coffee for you. Would you prefer to have them served here or shall we prepare the dining room?"
Li Feng, caught up in his thoughts, had indeed completely forgotten about lunch. "Ah," he chuckled sheepishly, "it seems I skipped lunch entirely. Well, I suppose a change of scenery wouldn't hurt. Please lead me to the dining room."
The maid offered a gentle smile. "Of course, Master. Please follow me."
As Li Feng rose from the sofa, Chen noticed a flicker of fatigue in his eyes. "Perhaps you should retire to your room after dinner, Master," he suggested. "It's been a long day."
Li Feng nodded thoughtfully. "That might be a good idea, Chen. Thank you for looking out for me."
They made their way to the dining room, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and light pastries wafting through the air.
Li Feng placed his phone on the table, its sleek design contrasting with the antique dining table. As he settled into his meal, he noticed Chen's curious gaze lingering on the device.
"Is something wrong, Chen?" Li Feng asked, his voice gentle.
Chen, emboldened by the opportunity, decided to speak his mind. "Master, if you don't mind me asking, is that the new phone you purchased today?" he inquired, his voice laced with curiosity.
Li Feng chuckled. "Indeed it is," he confirmed. "It was originally priced at 7500, but I managed to get it for 6500. A good deal, wouldn't you say?"
Chen was silent for a moment, his mind racing. He had expected Li Feng to purchase the latest, most expensive smartphone. But instead, he had opted for a more modest model, albeit at a discounted price.
As Li Feng stood up, Chen couldn't resist asking, "Master, what car did you purchase today?"
Li Feng, with a hint of pride in his voice, replied, "A Honda Civic Touring, the top model with all the accessories."
Chen's eyebrows shot up in surprise. A Honda Civic? He had expected a luxury car, a symbol of Li Feng's newfound wealth. But this humble choice left him perplexed.
The servants, who had overheard the conversation, were equally surprised. They had imagined their young master driving around in a flashy sports car or a sleek sedan. The Honda Civic, while certainly a good car, seemed somewhat underwhelming compared to the family's extravagant lifestyle.
As Li Feng left the dining room, he couldn't help but smile. He had found a simple joy in the process of making a purchase, negotiating a good deal, and owning something he had worked for.
It was that twilight hour, somewhere between late afternoon and the descent of evening. Li Feng, with a good chunk of time before dinner, reached for his recently purchased phone. He unlocked it and navigated to the unfamiliar whale app, a world of digital gifts and rewards for streamers.
With a tap, he topped up his account with a staggering sum – 889,000 yuan. The number displayed on the screen felt unreal compared to the careful negotiation he just had over a phone. Yet, the system had empowered him, and perhaps with this power, he could make a small difference in someone's life.
He started browsing through the live streams, a vast sea of faces vying for attention. His gaze lingered on a particular woman with an 9.4 rating. Unlike the others, she wasn't adorned in flashy outfits or making exaggerated expressions. Her attire was modest, . A sense of calming serenity emanated from the picture.
Li Feng understood why Yumi's viewership was low. The platform was saturated with loud, flashy personalities – the "adult" and "naughty" streams that thrived on sensationalism. Here was Yumi, a stark contrast, offering a calming oasis amidst the digital storm.
He admired her commitment to clean, wholesome content. She wasn't exploiting sexuality for views, nor did she seem particularly concerned with the low audience numbers. The backdrop of her stream, though sparsely decorated, hinted at a life of wealth and privilege. The suspicion arose that Yumi wasn't streaming for financial gain, but simply for the joy of sharing her peaceful hobbies.
Just as Li Feng was about to donate, a pop-up notification filled the screen. It announced a "Streamer Showdown".
A platform-created competition where two streamers would be pitted against each other. The competition was simple: the streamer with the higher viewership and total donations at the end of a designated time period would win.
The twist? The loser would be forced to forfeit all their donations to the winner.
Li Feng couldn't shake the feeling that Yumi had accidentally activated the "Streamer Showdown" feature. Her serene expression, untouched by the chaos of the competition, suggested that she was oblivious to the stakes involved. It was almost as if she were simply enjoying her hobby, oblivious to the virtual battle unfolding around her.
His gaze shifted between the two streamers showcased for the "Streamer Showdown." One was a flamboyant, heavily made-up woman with a suggestive pose, already holding a sizeable lead in both viewers and donations. The other was Yumi, her calm smile seeming almost out of place in this chaotic environment.
Li Feng knew what he had to do. He wouldn't let Yumi's peaceful stream be silenced by the platform's thirst for drama. A mischievous glint entered his eyes. It was time for the underdog to get a fighting chance.