I’m not new to the internet, and I’m certainly not some sheltered flower. I have a decent understanding of the online world.
Besides, Xu Ge, you said you’re a demon without an ID and couldn’t get online before—how do you know so much about the internet?
I’ve been surfing the web since I was a kid, so I definitely know more about it than you do.
“I get it. I’ll be careful. Xu Ge, you’re really amazing.”
Although she was silently criticizing him inside, Sun Xiaohui still spoke the sweet words to flatter him.
“Also, the game I play is a bit… exposed. Cough cough, I mean violent. I think minors should avoid it as much as possible,” Xu Bei said somewhat sheepishly.
“Hmm~ hmm?” Sun Xiaohui let out a knowing laugh.
“Cough cough.” That subtle expression made Xu Bei feel a bit awkward.
It also made him realize just how extraordinary his little girlfriend was—she had an exceptional intuition.
Of course! She’s a Writing Ability user!
She’s a born detective; nothing can be hidden from her.
“Let me see how to connect it and test if it works.”
Sun Xiaohui connected her secondary device to the VR game headset with a data cable, then powered it on.
Xu Bei looked at the wolf’s head logo on both the secondary device and the VR headset and couldn’t help but marvel: This is what a big company looks like?
You can’t just use any laptop to connect to the game headset—the brand has to match, or it won’t allow use.
That’s because both devices were manufactured by the same internet company, Sea Wolf.
It’s a major corporation running the nation’s largest streaming platform and monopolizing virtual gaming products.
The streaming website where his Unfilial Son live room was located was called Sea Wolf Live, specializing in all kinds of game streams.
The only competitor to Sea Wolf Live was a mysterious shady streaming dark web, focusing mainly on female host chat services.
So even though it’s just a laptop, the Sea Wolf brand and its ability to link with its own VR headset easily doubles the price.
“Sigh, honestly, this is a waste of money. I know hackers on Meteor Street who can make imitation devices that cost a third of the price,” Xu Bei said with a wry smile.
“Xu Ge, you can’t keep breaking the law! If you want to fit into civilized society, you have to play by the rules—no cutting corners. Besides, we do streaming, not private gaming. Using counterfeit products will be easily caught by the officials,” Sun Xiaohui warned quickly.
“How come you seem to know more than me?” Xu Bei gradually felt something was off.
As they talked, he realized Sun Xiaohui knew far more about the streaming industry than he did.
After all, Xu Bei was a total internet bumpkin who didn’t even know how to open his own live room in the game.
It was so simple—just click the system settings page to open your live room. You could even open a small window inside the virtual game to surf the internet.
“Right after class, my classmates pull out their phones to watch live streams. How could I not understand? I’m actually the least knowledgeable about streaming in the class. Everyone has their favorite streams, especially the boys—they mostly watch game streams,” Sun Xiaohui explained.
“Looks like I’m the real noob here,” Xu Bei could only accept the truth.
“Xu Ge, you should enter the game and take a look.” Sun Xiaohui’s secondary device was already powered on and ready, now just waiting for the primary device to enter the virtual game world.
Let’s take a moment to explain what “Primary Device” and “Secondary Device” mean in the streaming industry.
There’s no special meaning really—roughly, they correspond to the performer and the assistant.
The Primary Device is used by the main streamer performing in front of the audience; the Secondary Device belongs to the assistant helping the main streamer with the broadcast.
But that’s not absolute—the Secondary Device assistant sometimes appears on camera too.
Streaming is very flexible; everything is geared toward improving the live experience.
Tomorrow, the Secondary Device might even replace the Primary Device and take its spot.
Xu Bei put on the game headset and lay down on the bed skillfully.
Meanwhile, Sun Xiaohui sat at her desk in the real world, intently watching her laptop and picking up the microphone to test the sound.
Eyes closed and reopened, Xu Bei found himself back in the abandoned factory filled with chilling winds.
But the flickering white lights warmed his heart—it was a safe house.
“Hello? Hello? Xu Ge, can you hear me?”
Just as Xu Bei wondered what use the Secondary Device had, Sun Xiaohui’s voice came through his ear.
“I hear you. Where exactly is your voice coming from? Where are you watching me from?” Xu Bei spun around, looking for the source.
“I’m watching you through the screen outside. My computer is connected to your live room. Uh… by the way, why are we called Unfilial Son?” Sun Xiaohui asked.
“Umm…” Xu Bei was momentarily at a loss for an answer.
“Ah! From the outside, Xu Ge, it looks like you’re talking to yourself. The viewers are laughing at you, saying you look crazy,” Sun Xiaohui suddenly warned urgently.
“What! How dare they insult me? Wait, that’s not the point right now. Where exactly is your voice coming from? I thought it was through the headset,” Xu Bei kept searching for the voice’s origin.
Because Sun Xiaohui’s voice, unlike the kind that comes from headphones directly into your ears, seemed to come from a specific direction.
Then, under the white light, Xu Bei noticed a shadow.
A strange little creature was standing on the ground.
Xu Bei looked closely…
Damn, it was a small crimson phoenix-feathered, white-faced parrot!
“This is apparently my virtual avatar. It’s called ‘Detective Bird.’ You can carry it with you and hear me speak. At least that’s what the manual says,” the little parrot moved its beak, and Sun Xiaohui’s voice came from inside.
Xu Bei’s mouth twitched involuntarily, finding it hard to accept.
He circled the little parrot and joked, “How am I supposed to carry this around?”
The little parrot hopped on the ground, circling with him, chirping, “I have a unique viewpoint you can adjust! I can control it! The manual says you can put me on your shoulder or on top of your head while on standby.”
“I’ll try.” Xu Bei scooped up the parrot and placed it on his shoulder.
No normal person would put it on their head, right?
Once the phoenix-feathered parrot landed on his shoulder, its claws clung as if magnetized—solid as a rock, it wouldn’t budge no matter how much he moved.
“I don’t even know what to say anymore…” Xu Bei was speechless.
“Xu Ge, let’s go! I’ve permanently muted several rude viewers already!” The parrot’s tone was excited.