Noon.
After listening to all of Bai Xing's stories, Lu Qing was still eager to learn more.
Although he had already explored a lot about Bai Xing beforehand,
he was far from fully understanding her life and reading her past.
However, time was limited. [Understanding someone shouldn't be rushed.]
At this moment, under Wen Le's watchful gaze, Lu Qing gave up on having lunch with Bai Xing. With her understanding and girlfriend-like words, she allowed him to accompany his friend back to the dormitory.
"Senior, you guys go ahead. I'll be fine. Just make it up to me by having a milk tea at 89 Degrees C after school."
Bai Xing was well-versed in the art of "knowing when to advance and when to retreat."
Having crossed paths with Su Ling, she was no longer the same person.
She had learned a lot from her sister—
For example, never let your true feelings or dissatisfaction show on your face;
Or, make full use of Lu Qing's nature, understanding when to make requests that he would completely accept;
Of course, the degree of the request's excessiveness and its difficulty also needed to be carefully considered.
You couldn't be too greedy, nor too casual.
—No one understood Lu Qing better than Su Ling.
[Su Ling taught me many techniques, so I must imitate and learn them well, then practice them on Senior.]
[This way, in our next encounter, I can somewhat decipher her motives, and not be completely blindsided by her actions.]
Hmm.
Bai Xing had a strong sense of learning and knew how to imitate others.
After all, as a professional voice actress, if she wasn't good at observation, she wouldn't be able to master the essence of voice acting and climb to the peak of her career with the highest efficiency.
In life, she approached everything in the same way.
In her heart, she thought, [If I can learn and apply it immediately, I might be able to use it in the upcoming encounter with Mebia and catch her off guard.]
[She hasn't met Su Ling, so she definitely doesn't know how terrifying that demon by Senior's side really is.]
[She doesn't understand his situation at all, yet she dreams of winning him over with just her drawing skills.]
—That's just too naive.
Hmph.
Just wait. This time, I'll be fully prepared, in my strongest form, to face you, this inter-dimensional succubus.
Just you wait.
"Alright, message me on WeChat after class tonight."
Lu Qing interrupted her thoughts and accepted her request,
without even thinking, he tacitly agreed to this unscheduled invitation.
Bai Xing's face lit up with joy, sweetly responding, her expression full of happiness.
"It's settled then! I'll skip my last class in the afternoon and wait for you at the door of your classroom."
"..."
Before he could say anything, Bai Xing waved her small hand, bid him farewell, and walked alone towards the broadcasting studio.
"This girl..."
Lu Qing hesitated to speak.
Affection points +30.
The distance between their hearts invisibly closed.
"At some point, Senior has started to indulge all my whimsical suggestions. Even things that were once unthinkable."
Bai Xing thought to herself, feeling that
the afternoon sunlight wasn't so harsh anymore.
The heat transformed into strands of hope,
making the previously unworthy tomorrow seem not so bad after all.
"It's really nice."
She murmured.
Watching the girl leave,
Lu Qing shook his head, knowing that Bai Xing never wasted her time at school during lunch.
She would occasionally go to the "practice room" (audio multi-functional classroom) exclusive to the broadcasting and hosting major, to record/practice various voice lines, sometimes even skipping lunch.
Although the girl mentioned it casually, Lu Qing noticed and had long since acknowledged it in his heart.
His leading lady possessed all the qualities he needed.
She was even striving to break through her original limits, still trying to surpass her previous peak.
"Bai Xing, if it's you, you can definitely do it."
—You're already more than just "eight strikes."
Lu Qing was certain.
Blindly,
and resolutely, he trusted her.
...
...
Shortly after.
Heading back to the dormitory with Wen Le.
Planning to check on Zhang Yang's condition to avoid any unexpected issues when they went live.
Just as Lu Qing was about to ask, his phone buzzed.
Looking up, he saw that Tang Hua's WeChat message was as punctual as an alarm clock.
[Boss! I fell asleep!! I didn't see your message in time, I deserve to die, I'll go punish myself later.]
"..."
Seeing this message that didn't sound like a joke at all, Lu Qing immediately stopped in his tracks, deciding to finish typing before continuing to walk.
[Calm down, this isn't urgent. If I find any new scars on you next time, I won't use you anymore. I heard that Hoshizuki Rina's artist is pretty talented too.]
This was a level 30 super skill—"carrot and stick."
Applying both threat and control on Tang Hua to prevent her from continuing to harm herself.
A 100% strong control.
Sure enough, Tang Hua instantly replied with [!!!!!!],
then, for the first time, sent a voice message: "No!!!! Boss, I was wrong! Don't scare me! Don't abandon me... I'll die! I'll really die!!"
"..."
Well, when dealing with a self-destructive person, even a level 30 skill might not be enough.
Lu Qing was overwhelmed by her extreme reaction and immediately replied with a voice message: "I was joking, I would never replace you. I'll only use you, always, only you."
—"Sweet talk supplement."
This was a necessary backup to prevent her from taking extreme measures due to verbal stimulation.
"...Okay."
The soothed Tang Hua let out a sound like a tabby cat, seemingly a bit more stable now.
Only after Lu Qing sent a few more gentle voice messages did she truly calm down and send a "then it's settled" emoji.
"Mm."
He acknowledged, also finalizing the plans for the evening two days later.
"You don't need to prepare anything. I'll book a restaurant and send you the location in advance. The time is 8:30 PM, a bit late, but I know you're a night owl, and Bai Xing is too, so let's just treat it as a dinner."
Tang Hua agreed, "Mm! Whatever the boss says, I'll do."
It was clear that since their meeting, her tone had gradually deviated from her original style...
Completely different from when she was pretending to be "Rubia," a "38-year-old unemployed doujin artist."
Now, she was more dependent and shy, no longer hiding the intense emotions in her heart.
She wanted to express them, to let her love show, but was caught in a dilemma, torn between rationality and emotion.
Even Wen Le, as a bystander, noticed something was off and leaned over to ask:
"Qing, are you really juggling four relationships? You weren't just bragging last time, were you??"
"Huh? What four?"
Lu Qing was confused.
"Let me count them for you."
He counted on his fingers, one by one:
"Hoshizuki Rina, right? Bai Xing, your junior, that's confirmed. Then there's the person behind the succubus avatar, you told me you even went to her house, so you must have done the deed.
And now this artist, who knows where she came from, that's another one.
That makes four, doesn't it?"
Wen Le adjusted his black-framed glasses, wearing a "I've got you figured out" expression, not at all envious:
"You're something, kid, following in Old Li's footsteps, huh? Planting flags everywhere? I think you're about to graduate. You've got the vibe."
"?"
Lu Qing put away his phone and looked at him.
Speaking earnestly:
"Haven't been playing detective games lately, have you?"
"Huh?"
"You've regressed, Wen Le."
"Nani?! No way, was I wrong??"
Wen Le was shocked, immediately pulling out a pack of tissues from his pocket, taking one out, and vigorously wiping his glasses before putting them back on.
"Don't ask."
Lu Qing neither confirmed nor denied, "Cut back on the maid cafes recently. Everything in moderation, I suggest restraint."
He gave a knowing smile, delivering a new critical hit to this old vulture.
For a moment, Wen Le felt a sense of being seen through.
"Damn it... you really know me well. I wasn't wrong about you. It seems our bond has transcended dimensions, reaching a level of insight that spans across shores!"
Even though he had been figured out, Wen Le wasn't flustered. Instead, he proudly extended an invitation, "By the way, when are you free? I want to take you to Kuroro and have you share some tips on fashion and culture with Jingjing and the others. What do you think?"
"?"
Hearing this, Lu Qing immediately became alert. "What are you up to? You're not the owner of that shop, so why are you so concerned?"
Wen Le's tone, which sounded like he was trying to "enhance the awareness of his employees," made Lu Qing extremely suspicious.
"Ah, don't worry about the details!"
Wen Le quickly changed the subject, "You don't know this, but after my recent deep dive, I've come to understand the advantages of maids more and more. I've even started to grasp your tastes, realizing that you're already ahead of the curve, leading the modern anime scene!
So, I think it's essential to 'integrate and innovate.' I want to use my understanding of the anime community as a foundation, layer new elements on top, elevate it, and create the most avant-garde tastes..."
"Stop talking."
Realizing that Wen Le was about to go on another long-winded rant, Lu Qing cut him off, "Kid, you're invincible."
This was a half-hearted compliment thrown in for good measure.
"Haha, I think so too." Wen Le scratched his head, feeling quite pleased with himself.
"Hey, give me a time, and let's put this on the agenda."
"We'll discuss it later."
Lu Qing didn't want to argue with him. After all, as long as Wen Le could still laugh, it meant he hadn't been scammed by those "maids" to a significant extent yet.
When the day came that he no longer thought that game center was a "good place," Lu Qing would accompany him there again and explain the common scams associated with such places. Only then would the lesson truly sink in.
Otherwise, for someone like Wen Le, who seemed to be a wealthy guy, spending money without feeling the pinch wouldn't teach him anything.
"I'm really busy right now. Let's talk after I finish this workload."
"When will you be done? You can't just brush me off like this, bro!"
"Well, hopefully before the holiday. I've been swamped lately, with my schedule completely packed."
Lu Qing wasn't lying.
His time was so precious that it had to be counted by the minute.
Though he wasn't as meticulously scheduled as Senior Mu Xia, who had someone timing her every move, for a college student, juggling both "original creations" and a "large-scale project" was already killing him.
"Alright."
Knowing how tough things were for Lu Qing, Wen Le didn't push further. Instead, he shifted the topic, "By the way, I noticed that Yang has been researching Vtubers in the dorm lately. He even asks me a question or two from time to time. When I ask him what he's up to, he just mysteriously says, 'It's a confidential project, can't talk about it.'... Qing, do you know what's going on? What's up with this guy?"
"..."
Hearing this, Lu Qing silently gave Zhang Yang a thumbs up for keeping his mouth shut.
He never expected that his usually messy roommate could be so tight-lipped about a new project, not even telling "professional" Wen Le. He truly deserved to be called reliable.
However, keeping this a secret from Wen Le didn't make much sense. After all, once the livestream started, it would be impossible to hide. It was better to explain the plan in advance and clear up some long-standing misunderstandings. That seemed more reasonable.
With that in mind, Lu Qing decided to be straightforward:
"As you can see, I recently commissioned an artist for some artwork. I'm planning to use my college years to find a partner and venture into the Vtuber scene, build a small career, and earn some extra cash along the way. So..."
Before he could finish, Wen Le immediately understood—
"Oh! I get it. You want to be the boss! Then have your partner go live, assign Zhang Yang as the moderator, and handle the planning yourself. Is that what you mean?"
"???"
Lu Qing was stunned.
He thought to himself, this guy really knows his stuff.
"Impressive."
Since they were already on the topic, Lu Qing decided to ask,
"...So, from your perspective, what's missing in my lineup?"
He believed that in terms of the character design, Tang Hua was already top-notch;
In terms of the person behind the avatar, Bai Xing would never let him down;
For planning, he had watched enough variety shows to have some experience;
As for the moderator, Zhang Yang seemed quite dedicated, so there shouldn't be any issues.
He couldn't think of anything else that needed improvement.
But obviously, Wen Le had a different opinion.
Wen Le was a seasoned Vtuber enthusiast.
After pondering the lineup for a moment, he quickly concluded,
"Haha, this won't work. I think you're missing two things."
"Two things?"
Lu Qing was taken aback and quickly asked, "What are they?"
Wen Le adjusted his glasses, extended his index finger, and explained,
"One is a plant. In any livestream, if there's no plant, the comments you write for the streamer won't get any responses, and you won't be able to create a positive atmosphere. In other words, your planning won't have any effect, and the streamer might end up in an awkward situation."
"Oh... that's true. Big agencies usually have a bunch of hired commenters stirring things up. But we're just starting out, and we're independent. We don't have the resources for that. Does this require spending money? I don't think it's necessary."
"Of course not."
Wen Le smiled smugly, "A truly skilled plant can single-handedly set the tone for the entire stream, like dropping a top DJ into a club. With just a little effort, they can get the audience hyped. You know what I mean? In the industry, this is called a 'field controller.' See if you have anyone around who could fit that role."
He gave a mysterious smile.
"..."
Of course.
Seeing Wen Le's eager expression, Lu Qing didn't need to guess anymore. He asked directly, "You want to join my team, don't you?"
"Hey, I'm just helping out! Helping, you understand?"
"Are you charging for this?"
"Of course not. It's voluntary, free of charge."
"Stop pretending. Your expression gives you away. What do you want?"
Lu Qing understood Wen Le far beyond the surface level.
"Hehe..." Wen Le didn't beat around the bush anymore and stated his request outright, "Take me under your wing, teach me more about maids. I've been... a bit obsessed lately."
"Alright. No problem."
Lu Qing nodded, adding this to his future "mentorship plan."
"Next point. Quick."
"The next point..." Wen Le smiled like a seasoned veteran, "The next point is the most crucial."
"In any livestream, for any Vtuber to become massively popular, they must have one thing."
"What?"
"A **core competitive advantage**."
Wen Le said seriously, "Think about it. Why would viewers care about someone who isn't attractive? What would draw their attention, or even make them willingly spend money to support the streamer?
I have to say, the succubus character design you commissioned has a devastatingly powerful appeal, so your starting point won't be low. But in my opinion, without a unique **edge**, you'll never dominate the charts and become number one."
Lu Qing thought about it, "Hmm, that's true."
He couldn't help but ponder—
From his own perspective,
what kind of livestreaming style would he most want to see?
Some streamers focus on risqué content, "My edge is my edge";
Some streamers focus on chatting, "You can pour out your bad emotions here, and I'll take it all in";
Some streamers love singing, "You can request any song, and if I don't know it, I'll learn it";
And some streamers have unique talents, like Hoshizuki Rina in the past—
"I'm Rina-chan, Hoshizuki Rina, who can mimic over 50 different voices. Any character you love, I can recreate 1:1."
But that was in the past.
It had already drifted away with the wind, not worth mentioning anymore.
Now, she had to abandon her former strengths and start anew.
At the same time, she needed to collaborate with Tang Hua, ensuring that even if the person behind the avatar changed, the livestream could continue seamlessly.
This vision required one hard condition—
Both of them had to possess such a **unique edge**.
How should they decide?
Bai Xing was a seasoned veteran, while Tang Hua was a complete newcomer.
On top of the killer character design, how could they blend the two and balance them out?
What should be the **ultimate weapon**?
Is there something that transcends "interaction" and "performance art" as a 「core competency」?
"Hey, have you figured it out yet? Maybe we should imitate that one person..."
"No."
Suddenly, Lu Qing had a flash of inspiration.
She decisively rejected Wen Le's suggestion,
pondered for a few more seconds,
and then declared with unwavering determination:
"I've made up my mind."
"What I need the most—"
…
is 「companionship」.
……
……