Shen Xixi leaned lazily against her sofa.
Of course, there was no way a legendary beauty like Bao Si could exist in reality; it was likely just an illusion born of sleep deprivation. However, she was more than happy to pay for a little entertainment.
In the livestream, the streamer was clearly stunned by the 500-yuan tip. She didn’t speak for a long while, and only her faint, nervous breathing could be heard.
The bullet screen comments were already rushing her:
**[Streamer, hurry up and meow! Your benefactor is waiting!]**
**[Don’t be shy! Five hundred for a single meow is a massive profit!]**
**[That breathing sound… I’m done for.]**
Shen Xixi arched an eyebrow and clicked a few more times.
**[“Shen Family’s Invincible Dragon Aotian Tyrant Young Lady” has gifted the streamer “Is it a Female Colleague?” a “Luxury Cruise”!]**
**[What, you don’t know how to meow? Or is it not enough?]**
Luo Tiantian’s head was buzzing.
‘One cruise is 500. After the platform takes its half, I get 250. With two, I’m a double 250!’
“I… I can do it!” she blurted out, her voice cracking with anxiety. Realizing her mistake, she quickly softened her tone. “Thank you… thank you for the gift, ‘Shen Family’s Invincible Dragon Aotian Tyrant Young Lady’…”
Luo Tiantian leaned closer to the microphone, opened her small mouth to reveal her pearly white teeth, and let out a sharp sound:
“Ha!!”
**[“Shen Family’s Invincible Dragon Aotian Tyrant Young Lady” has gifted the streamer “Is it a Female Colleague?” a “Luxury Cruise”!]**
**[Bullet Screen: She told you to meow like a cat!]**
“This is a meow too~~” Luo Tiantian insisted.
‘Boss, your requirements are awfully specific.’
**[“Shen Family’s Invincible Dragon Aotian Tyrant Young Lady” has left the livestream.]**
Luo Tiantian stuck out her tongue.
She was just testing out the streaming feature anyway. The money wouldn’t even go into her own pocket; this was Su Xiao’s account.
*Ding-dong! Ding-dong, ding-dong!*
The doorbell suddenly rang.
Luo Tiantian jumped in surprise.
‘Who is it? A friend of Su Xiao’s? Property management? Or the water meter reader?’
‘Wait, did I get flagged already? I didn’t do anything… indecent.’
Luo Tiantian decided to wake Su Xiao first. She took off her headset and stood up, preparing to walk toward the gaming capsule.
*Click.*
The door was actually opened from the outside.
A middle-aged woman with her hair pulled back in a bun and a weary expression walked in, carrying a small bag. She held a set of keys in her other hand, having clearly used them to enter.
Their eyes met.
Luo Tiantian froze on the spot.
Su Xiao’s mother was also stunned. She stared at the breathtakingly beautiful girl in the living room. The girl had flushed cheeks and panicked eyes, and she was wearing a pair of jeans and a hoodie that looked several sizes too large. Meanwhile, her daughter, Su Xiao, was lying in an expensive-looking gaming capsule, completely oblivious to her mother’s arrival.
‘Who is this?’
The mother’s gaze lingered on Luo Tiantian’s face for a few seconds, her brow furrowing slightly.
‘Why does this girl look so familiar? And her looks are far too extraordinary. When did Xiao Xiao make a friend like this?’
“You are…?”
“Hello, Auntie. I’m Su Xiao’s friend. Su Xiao… she’s playing a game right now. I’m… I’m just waiting for her here…” Luo Tiantian was dazed and shocked.
‘Isn’t this the doctor from earlier today?’
‘Why is she here?’
“Oh, hello. I’m Su Xiao’s mother. What is your name?”
“I… my name is Luo…”
Luo Tiantian almost blurted out her real name. Remembering her current appearance and identity, she forced herself to stop. “My name is… Luoluo.”
“Luoluo? That’s a very unique name.”
Su Xiao’s mother looked at her more closely. Suddenly, a memory flashed through her mind. She remembered the stunning girl from the hospital clinic that morning—the one who claimed to be the girlfriend of the patient, Luo Tiantian.
‘It’s her! Why is she at our house?’
‘Wait!’
‘Does Xiao Xiao know about her situation? Does she know this girl has a boyfriend, and that the boyfriend is in critical condition?’
A series of questions flooded the mother’s mind. She specifically recalled how the girl’s face had been flushed and her eyes evasive when she walked in. Given that Xiao Xiao didn’t seem to like boys… combined with the girl’s desperate need for money, the mother couldn’t help but draw a troubling conclusion.
‘Could it be…?’
The gaming capsule emitted a soft chime, and the hatch slid open.
Su Xiao sat up with a look of annoyance, grumbling under her breath.
“What a trash game. Total scam. They talked about ‘special NPC services,’ but they just made me pick a script and wait? I didn’t see a single NPC shadow. What a waste of time. I’d rather be with my Tian—”
Her complaining came to a screeching halt.
She had finally spotted her mother standing in the living room with a complicated expression.
“Mom?”
The annoyance on Su Xiao’s face instantly shifted to surprise, followed by a hint of aloofness and impatience. “Why are you back?”
Seeing her daughter’s attitude caused a pang of hurt in the mother’s heart. “I came back to see you. Is this friend of yours Luoluo?”
“Luoluo?” Su Xiao blinked, looking at Luo Tiantian.
Luo Tiantian frantically shot her a look.
Though Su Xiao didn’t understand where the name Luoluo had come from, she caught Luo Tiantian’s nervous signal. She immediately reacted, running over to affectionately grab Luo Tiantian’s arm. “Oh, yeah! This is my new best friend, Luoluo.”
The mother sighed inwardly.
She knew her daughter all too well. Since childhood, Su Xiao had always been particularly fond of pretty girls, and she had never hidden her sexual orientation as she grew older.
Given the current scene and the atmosphere…
The mother kept her tone as gentle as possible. “Xiao Xiao, come and help me for a moment. I just finished a night shift and I’m a bit hungry. I think there are some noodles in the kitchen. Can you help me cook some? Make some for Luoluo too. It wouldn’t be right to let a guest go hungry.”
Su Xiao was a bit reluctant. “Mom, just cook them yourself. I want to stay with Luoluo…”
The mother rubbed her temples, looking exhausted. “I just got back from surgery. I’m very tired. It’s just some noodles; it’ll be quick. Luoluo, why don’t you sit for a while and watch some TV?”
“Ah, okay! I’m not hungry, so don’t worry about me. No need to trouble yourself…” Luo Tiantian waved her hands hurriedly.
‘I’m doomed.’
Luo Tiantian’s mind was a mess.
The mother pulled Su Xiao, who still wanted to cling to Luo Tiantian, toward the kitchen.
As soon as they entered and closed the sliding door, the mother lowered her voice.
“Xiao Xiao, tell me the truth. This Luoluo… how did you meet her? How long have you known her? How much do you actually know about her?”
Su Xiao found the questioning bizarre. “We just met yesterday at the hospital gates. She’s beautiful and kind, she just happens to be a bit short on cash. That’s why I’m going to help her start livestreaming to make some money.”
“You met her just yesterday?! You met her yesterday, and you’ve already brought her home today? You’re even planning to make money together through livestreaming? Xiao Xiao, don’t you think this is moving too fast?”
“What’s so fast about it? Can’t two people hit it off immediately? Mom, are you overthinking things again? Do you think everyone is out to scam your daughter? Luoluo isn’t that kind of person!”
“That’s not what I meant…” The mother rubbed her temples again, finding it incredibly difficult to communicate with her daughter.
But could she tell the truth?
If they really were just friends, wouldn’t she be overstepping? Her daughter would think she was suspicious and nosy, further damaging their already fragile relationship.
But if her suspicions were correct… her poor, foolish daughter was likely being exploited for her feelings and her sympathy.
“Xiao Xiao, I don’t mind you making friends, but you need to have boundaries. Especially when it comes to money, you must be cautious. You only met yesterday, and now you’re starting a livestream business? Do you know anything about her specific circumstances?”
“Of course her circumstances aren’t good! Why else would she need money?”
The mother was left speechless for a moment. She let out a bitter laugh. “Helping people requires the right method. You shouldn’t just bring someone home on a whim because you’re acting on impulse. Fine, just cook the noodles first.”
Since she couldn’t get any answers from Su Xiao, she decided she would have to go and question this Luoluo herself.