Live Stream
Forgot to tell you one thing…
“My girlfriend raised him.” The words were like a muffled thunderclap, exploding next to Tang Yingxia’s ear. For a moment, she was under the illusion that she had misheard, but the bullet comments flooding the screen, the dog Jin Shuilan was petting, and the collar around the dog’s neck undoubtedly shattered her delusion.
【Holy shit? What did I just hear?】
【What did Teacher Jin say?】
【What! Heartbroken the moment I tune in?】
【What girlfriend, what girlfriend? The single king Teacher Jin actually has a partner!】
【Even Teacher Jin has a wife, what excuse do you all have for not finding a partner?】
【Am I the only one curious about who Teacher Jin’s partner is?】
It wasn’t just this commenter; everyone was staring at their screens in curiosity. Jin Shuilan smiled gently and heard the editor say in a tone of excessive shock, “Teacher Jin, you have a partner?”
Jin Shuilan nodded. “Yes, we just started dating not long ago.”
The screen was flooded with a barrage of “Holy shit.” The editor collected herself, her mind scrambling for questions related to the book, trying her best to stabilize the mood of the readers in the live stream. She even placed the list of questions to her left, striking a pose, determined to be a professional host with principles, unshaken by any gossip1. But when her gaze swept over the screen, she still couldn’t resist asking, “Teacher Jin, is your partner also a writer?”
Professionalism be damned, she really wanted to gossip right now, ahhh!
Jin Shuilan chuckled. “She’s not. She’s a voice actress. She also streams sometimes.”
【A crazy thought just crossed my mind.】
【I have a bold idea.】
【Sisters, I think I suddenly know who it is!】
【Who, who, don’t keep us in suspense! You’re killing me!】
【Aiya, aiya, is my Mo Qi CP2 for real?】
【Oh my god! I’m shipping a real one!】
Jin Shuilan watched as Lu Zhenqiu’s name scrolled past in the bullet comments. She turned her head to look at Lu Zhenqiu in the living room. Lu Zhenqiu was lying on the sofa, holding her phone with one hand, the other hand raised to her lips, occasionally biting her fingertips. She looked charming and adorable. Jin Shuilan’s eyes were full of soft light. Lu Zhenqiu couldn’t see Jin Shuilan’s expression or actions clearly at all. The screen was completely filled; she stared at her own name, her face blushing crimson.
The editor pressed on, “Is she a very famous voice actress?”
Jin Shuilan said, “She just returned to the voice acting circle and doesn’t have many works yet. But in my heart, she’s the most outstanding voice actress.”
A naked confession!
The readers’ minds were no longer on the new book at all. They just wanted to gossip and dig up every single detail of Jin Shuilan and Lu Zhenqiu’s relationship, the kind with no stone left unturned. But Jin Shuilan understood to stop when appropriate. She said, “Let’s get back to talking about the novel.”
“Oh, right, right.” The editor, still wanting more, suppressed her urge to ask further questions and switched to topics related to the novel. The pre-sale for Jin Shuilan’s book had started two days ago, and the results were excellent. She never had to worry about sales; her base3 was too large. It was pretty much at the point where mentioning baihe novels would make one think of her. So everyone bought a copy, and the new book’s sales were great. The editor said, “Then let’s have everyone say hello one by one.”
Jin Shuilan patted Maomao’s head and simply let him stay for the live stream.
The bullet comments were in an uproar. Some were asking about her relationship, some about the new book, some about Jin Shuilan, and some about Maomao. It was a chaotic free-for-all. Jin Shuilan turned off the bullet comments and looked toward Tang Yingxia.
Tang Yingxia clenched her hands, her body so tense it ached. Her eyes were fixed on Jin Shuilan and Maomao, but she was afraid of others noticing anything unusual, so she didn’t let her emotions show too much. Perhaps from holding her breath, the corners of her eyes were very red, and her entire demeanor was cold and gloomy.
Soon, it was her turn to be introduced. Tang Yingxia’s polite greeting became a grit-to-othed snarl when she faced Jin Shuilan and Maomao. Holding her breath, she said, “Hello everyone, I am Sheng Xia4. I am extremely honored and happy to be able to connect microphones5 with Teacher Jin for this live stream and to meet you all before the new year.”
She had quite a few readers herself, and after seeing Jin Shuilan go public with her relationship, they all started asking about her and Yu Wen’s relationship.
【Xia Shen, are you and Wenwen going to go public soon too?】
【Xia Shen, Xia Shen, are you and Wenwen…】
【Xia Shen, charge, duck6! Look, even Teacher Jin is holding her wife!】
Tang Yingxia gripped the edge of her chair and forced a smile. “Let’s not talk about private matters today.”
She looked left and right and spoke of other things7; this was Tang Yingxia’s usual tactic. Her readers thought she was just being shy and left comments one after another: 【Do a live stream with Wenwen next time.】
【I want to see the Xia-Wen CP too!】
【Seeing Teacher Jin find a wife, I suddenly feel like my youth is over.】
Jin Shuilan’s works had accompanied many young people. Some of them were still in school, some had just graduated, and they had come into contact with Jin Shuilan’s novels back then. In the blink of an eye, many years had indeed passed.
The bullet comments suddenly turned a bit sentimental. The editor immediately adjusted the atmosphere, joking with the other guests to change the subject. Jin Shuilan occasionally lifted her eyes to glance at Lu Zhenqiu. Thinking of what happened two years ago, she pursed her lips.
“Teacher Jin, tell us about your original intention for creating this work. What kind of meaning did you want to express?” the editor asked a standard question. Jin Shuilan thought for a moment and said, “My original intention for this work was to express that people should have independent thoughts, and that when doing anything, one must have the courage to accept failure…”
Her past retreat had given Tang Yingxia an opportunity. After reuniting with Lu Zhenqiu, not a day went by that she didn’t blame herself. She should have been braver back then.
It wouldn’t have mattered even if she had failed.
The editor nodded and said, “I don’t know what others think when they read your novels, but personally, they truly move me every time.”
At this point, she passed the topic to the guests. Besides Tang Yingxia, three of the other guests today knew Jin Shuilan. One was from her fan group, so they were very familiar. Although they praised her work, they couldn’t help but tease her for being sharp-tongued. When it was Tang Yingxia’s turn, the editor asked, “Xia Shen, have you read Teacher Jin’s new work?”
These were all questions written in advance and had been confirmed with Tang Yingxia. The subsequent answers had also been sent to her. But Tang Yingxia, as if she had lost her memory, fell silent for two seconds before saying, “Not yet.”
The editor was taken aback.
The other guests in the live stream looked at her. Jin Shuilan stroked Maomao and said with a smile, “Xia Shen has been busy with publishing matters recently, so she probably hasn’t had the time to read it.”
But that “not yet” was undoubtedly a slap in the face.
It wasn’t Jin Shuilan who was slapped, but the two magazine publishers, especially Mi Qi’s. The hosting editor cursed inwardly, annoyed by Tang Yingxia’s lack of cooperation, and wondered if the opposing magazine had done this on purpose to sabotage the event.
Everyone knew that today was the live stream for Jin Shuilan’s new book. Even if you hadn’t read it, you couldn’t just say it like that. So there was only one possibility: it was intentional.
Meanwhile, the editor from Tang Yingxia’s magazine was dumbfounded. Watching the live stream, she hurriedly sent Tang Yingxia a message: 【Xia Shen? If you say that, it’ll be very difficult for us to explain things to Mi Qi!】
What if Mi Qi misunderstood it as intentional and word got out in the industry? Who the hell would dare to do joint events with their magazine in the future?
Tang Yingxia also knew her words were inappropriate. She just couldn’t hold it in anymore. The thought of Jin Shuilan and Lu Zhenqiu being together filled her with an abnormal rage, which was why she was being uncooperative. The words were already out and couldn’t be taken back, but she knew her limits and amended her statement: “But I have read Teacher Jin’s other works.”
Jin Shuilan glanced at her and smiled. “Then, Xia Shen, which of my works is your favorite?”
Hearing her question, Tang Yingxia bit the tip of her tongue, the taste of rust filling her mouth. Tang Yingxia paused for two seconds before saying, “I like Teacher Jin’s previous novel the most. It was very interestingly written.”
Listening to their exchange, the editor had already formed a negative opinion of Tang Yingxia. Fearing she might say something else shocking, she simply didn’t give her another chance to speak. Tang Yingxia became a background board8.
The atmosphere in the live stream was cheerful and harmonious. Some sharp-eyed readers sensed something was off, but with prize draws, online interviews, and Jin Shuilan sharing a tidbit about her love life, who was paying attention to Tang Yingxia anymore?
Tang Yingxia sat sullenly in her chair, her nails digging so deep into the armrest they were about to leave permanent marks. A fire blazed in her eyes. Someone in her small group chat tagged her.
【Xia Shen, are Lu Zhenqiu and Teacher Jin together?】
【When did she get involved with Teacher Jin? Didn’t someone say she was having an affair with that person in charge at her company @Lu Yan.】
Lu Yan didn’t reply, but others started typing.
【Heh, maybe she has her feet in two different boats9. Besides, didn’t she break up with Xia Shen back then just to sleep her way up? It’s not strange for her to latch onto Teacher Jin now. Maybe she’ll kick Teacher Jin to the curb in a while for a new golden master10.】
【True. She’s so slutty. I can’t stand people like her. Xia Shen, it’s a good thing you broke up with her.】
Tang Yingxia didn’t reply, merely staring coldly at the chat. The frustration and resentment building in her heart grew deeper and deeper. She simply closed the group chat. Hearing the live stream still going on, she sat in her chair, losing track of how long she had been listening.
“Maomao.” A clear voice came from Jin Shuilan’s end. Jin Shuilan looked up. “He likes it here, so just let him be.”
Lu Zhenqiu was worried. “Will he disturb your live stream?”
“He won’t,” Jin Shuilan said with a gentle smile. “Do you want to come over?”
Lu Zhenqiu waved her hands. “No.”
Although it was a very quiet conversation mixed in with the editor’s speaking, Tang Yingxia still caught it. Her eyes narrowed. She clicked her mouse on Jin Shuilan’s avatar frame. While others were teasing Jin Shuilan for being different after getting into a relationship, Tang Yingxia’s face alone was dark and gloomy, her expression like the wind and rain are about to come11.
The live stream lasted for a little over an hour. The host’s throat was dry from talking. She took a sip of warm water and told the readers she would invite Jin Shuilan and the other guests again next time. The readers howled, unsatisfied with the short duration. The editor smiled and placated them, then had the guests say their goodbyes. Tang Yingxia was the last to say goodbye. The authors before her had already gone offline after their farewells. She said curtly, “Well, see you next time.”
The readers spammed her name. Tang Yingxia gave a small smile and disconnected from the stream.
The screen was still lit up. Jin Shuilan and the editor-in-chief were saying goodbye to the readers. Not wanting to hear another word, she decisively quit the live stream room. The room fell silent, but her ears were still filled with the conversations from the stream, countless noises seeping in from everywhere, drilling straight into her ears. The events of two years ago resurfaced without warning. Tang Yingxia’s face turned pale then green. In a fit of rage, she swept everything off her desk with one arm. Books, notebooks, the mouse, a fountain pen, and a desk lamp were all swiped onto the floor, making a harsh noise. The lamp rolled twice, and its bulb shattered into pieces!
Tang Yingxia gritted her teeth and stepped on the broken bulb. With a pfft, fine shards of glass pierced through her slipper. Tang Yingxia took two deep breaths. Her eyes caught sight of the phone on the floor. She picked it up, her gloomy gaze fixed on it for a few seconds, and dialed a number.
Jin Shuilan was sitting at her computer. Lu Zhenqiu was feeding Maomao snacks, holding some in her own hand as well. Hearing the phone ring, she answered it. With her hands full, she simply turned on the speakerphone. “Hello.”
“Jin Shuilan,” Tang Yingxia said. “You must be feeling pretty smug right now, huh?”
Hearing the familiar voice, Lu Zhenqiu’s expression filled with shock. She turned to look at Jin Shuilan, their eyes meeting. Jin Shuilan ventured a guess, “Tang Yingxia?”
“What? Can’t recognize my voice?” Tang Yingxia sneered. “You must be very happy right now, right? Happy to have picked up someone else’s worn-out shoe12!”
Lu Zhenqiu’s expression changed slightly. Jin Shuilan frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“As if you don’t know what I’m talking about! You don’t really think Lu Zhenqiu likes you, do you? Back when she was following me around, licking my boots, you were who knows where. I was the one who didn’t want her, so she went and climbed into the bed of that platform manager, and that’s how she met you. You’re just a stepping stone for her. Don’t you want to know what kind of person she is?”
Jin Shuilan’s face darkened slightly. Her voice dropped low. Just as Lu Zhenqiu’s hands clenched into fists, she spoke. “I don’t need you to tell me what kind of person she is. But I do know what kind of person you are.”
Tang Yingxia’s eyes narrowed, the feeling of shame in her heart magnifying infinitely. Her probing had quickly received a response. Jin Shuilan continued, “Two years ago, you knew I liked Qiuqiu. You knew I prepared ginger tea for her every day. So you used my name to meet with her and told her you were the one who prepared the tea.”
“You never actually liked her at all. You just felt a perverted thrill from being with her, from feeling like you had won against me. That’s why you didn’t want to be intimate with her. You just wanted to control her, right?”
“I!” Tang Yingxia said stubbornly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“How could you not know,” Jin Shuilan said. “Tang Yingxia, do you know what your biggest flaw is? It’s your guilty conscience. It’s that you measure others by yourself13. When Qiuqiu was streaming back then, she was suddenly hit by a virus attack. You did that, didn’t you?”
Tang Yingxia’s face went deathly pale. “Don’t you spray people with a bloody mouth14!”
“Am I spraying people with a bloody mouth?” Jin Shuilan chuckled. “Tang Yingxia, you couldn’t possibly think that by adding one extra layer to your IP, it couldn’t be traced, could you? Why did you send the virus? Weren’t you just scared? You were scared that Qiuqiu would release your chat history, destroying the single-girl persona15 you’ve built up for two years, destroying the CP hype between you and Yu Wen in your readers’ minds. Weren’t you just feeling guilty, thinking Qiuqiu would do the same thing as you? Let me tell you, Tang Yingxia, she never once thought about getting revenge on you.”
Tang Yingxia fell silent.
Jin Shuilan added, “Also, you sent the ‘Stirred Emotions’ voice lines to Lu Yan, allowing Lu Yan to use a side account to spread rumors. You really thought you did it so that the heavenly garment has no seams16?”
Tang Yingxia’s hands and feet went cold. The glass from the lightbulb she had stepped on dug deeper and deeper into the sole of her foot, drawing blood. Now, a sudden chill swept through her entire body. Tang Yingxia gritted her teeth. “Do you have proof?”
Jin Shuilan said, word by word, “I can call Lu Yan right now. Do you dare?”
Tang Yingxia suddenly remembered that Lu Yan hadn’t appeared in the group chat for many days, and there had been no news of her. She had also heard from the radio drama team that Lu Yan hadn’t been participating in promotions recently.
In an instant, cold sweat dripped down her back.
Jin Shuilan said, “Two years ago, you used the ginger tea I gave Qiuqiu to get close to her and suppress her. You were afraid she would have contact with me, so you went so far as to cancel all her radio drama collaborations, lying to her that no one was looking for her. Two years later, after you broke up, you attacked her computer with a virus and spread rumors about her and the manager. Tang Yingxia, don’t you think you owe her an apology?”
Tang Yingxia stood ramrod straight, the phone pressed to her ear. Listening to Jin Shuilan list these things, her emotions grew increasingly taut, giving her the feeling of standing on a cliff’s edge, as if treading on thin ice.
Jin Shuilan gave her a push.
Jin Shuilan said, “It’s fine if you don’t say it. Because even if you did, she wouldn’t forgive you.” After saying that, the spearhead of her words turned17. “Right, I forgot to tell you one more thing.”
Tang Yingxia bit her tongue, a pain so sharp it felt like her bones were being scraped. She asked in a low voice, “What is it?”
Jin Shuilan said slowly and deliberately, “I forgot to tell you that my live stream is still on.”
Tang Yingxia’s mind went buzz. A moment later, she realized what was happening and cursed, “Jin Shuilan, I’ll fuck you—”
The call cut off abruptly!
The author has something to say:
Thirty red envelopes, memeda. Happy Chinese New Year’s Eve.
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