A Catalyst Is Needed

Female Grudge's current fastest record was one hour and forty-three minutes.

Si You thought the sound effects and the female ghost's terrifying design were flawless, but the level itself was not difficult. He had just yawned when that comment popped up in the barrage, instantly waking him up.

"One hour and forty-three minutes?" Si You said. "I can break that record!"

[See? I told you this kid can't stand hearing that someone's faster than him.]

Si You's keyboard clattered at lightning speed. He ultimately cleared it in one hour and twenty-seven minutes. The barrage kept spamming "666," and some of the haters had been scared off by the female ghost. The ones left could not find much to criticize. Si You really knew how to play horror games! The scarier they were, the more excited he got!

"That's it for today's stream. I'll come back when I have time. You guys can pick the games from now on. We'll hold a vote next time—whatever gets the most support, I'll play. But try to keep it under two hours. I can only stream for you after filming wraps up."

[All right, big bro's satisfied after watching one round. Go get some rest.]

Si You wanted to, but the gift effects on the screen had not stopped for a second. He spent another three minutes thanking them, until his mouth felt dry enough that he could not help asking, "Did you save these all up to send them at once?"

[Don't worry about us. Big bro saw people online tearing into you pretty badly. I heard show recordings pay according to status. With your status, you're at the very bottom, right?]

[Worried you'll starve to death, so here's some pocket money.]

[Actually, don't stress about it. When the cart reaches the mountain, there'll be a road; when the boat reaches the bridge, it'll go straight. You're young, good at games, and you've got a pretty face. Worst case, quit the entertainment industry. What's so great about that smoky mess anyway? Stream horror games in the future, or try making it as a looks-based streamer. You definitely won't starve, and you'll certainly live better than ordinary people.]

Si You said, "...All right, big bro."

If he had the chance, Si You still wanted to act. He had learned so many things so he could effortlessly embody every role. Even with a second chance at life, that had not changed. It was impossible for Si You to give up so easily.

After ending the stream, Si You saw that it was almost eleven o'clock.

When he turned around, he found Jiang Tingxu setting down his phone.

"Sorry for disturbing you for so long." Si You stood up.

Jiang Tingxu sat up from the bed as well. "Not at all. I usually go to sleep around this time. It worked out perfectly."

"Oh, right." Jiang Tingxu said, "That body wash..."

"Go ahead and use it." Si You opened the door. "I redeemed two more bottles. If you run out, just ask me for more."

"Okay." Jiang Tingxu leaned against the wardrobe. He truly was refined and composed from head to toe. Si You remembered that Jiang Tingxu had debuted at eighteen and was only twenty-six now. With talent at its peak and exceptional diligence, he was someone who had reached both the ceiling and the floor. On top of that, his background was formidable. Heaven, earth, and fate all stood on his side. Logically, someone like that could be arrogant if he wanted to be—he had the capital for it. Yet from the very first moment Si You met Jiang Tingxu, he had sensed in him a gentle composure forged through constant self-polishing and self-cultivation. In the restless, extravagant entertainment industry, he stood apart in his own sphere.

If Si You had to describe him, he had the destiny of a king and the nature of a gentleman.

After thinking all that, Si You could not help glancing at him a few more times.

And Jiang Tingxu took in every trace of amazement and admiration in his eyes.

"Good night," Jiang Tingxu said softly.

Si You came back to himself. "Ah, good night!"

He hurried out and gently shut the door behind him, then thoroughly berated himself. How embarrassing!

Instead of tiring him out, the livestream had put Si You in a much better mood. Since he had started streaming horror games, he had to be responsible to those viewers. Quite a few people had messaged him privately on Weibo. If he did not stream again, he always felt as though he owed them something, and it was uncomfortable.

A torrential storm struck in the middle of the night. Si You was awakened by the dense patter of rain and groggily got out of bed to close the window. A chill slipped down the back of his neck, making him shiver, but he did not think much of it. Not until he woke the next morning with a heavy head.

Si You sat at the edge of the bed for a while, thinking it was probably nothing serious.

If they could still go dig wild vegetables with the farmers yesterday, then with today's rain, even the farmers did not want to leave the house.

Song Yalin and Jiang Yao had slept in the same room the night before. When everyone was nearly done with breakfast, Song Yalin came downstairs alone, looking somewhat flustered.

Shao Ancheng stood up. "What happened?"

"Yao Yao must have gotten caught in the rain yesterday. She has a fever."

Zhang Jianlin's already unpleasant expression turned even more livid.

He had gotten onto the trending searches as he wished, but only with labels like "average-and-confident guy" and "major turnoff." Zhang Jianlin cared deeply about what others thought of him. After reading Weibo last night, his fragile heart had shattered completely. Only then did he realize how badly he had performed this season. Now that Jiang Yao had a fever from getting drenched, it was not hard to imagine how her fans would tear him apart.

Zhang Jianlin felt a little frightened and hurriedly got to his feet. "I didn't bring any medicine. Did any of you?"

Jiang Tingxu said, "I brought a box of cold medicine. Let's try it first."

The production crew did not dare delay and immediately called a doctor. But in this weather, rainwater was pouring back in, and the road had been washed into something like a waterfall. Cars could barely get through.

Si You looked it up. "There's a pharmacy nearby."

"Right!" Fei Chang nodded. "I know where it is. I saw it once."

Zhang Jianlin added, "Give me the address. I'll see if I can get some fever medicine."

Everything was being filmed. Zhang Jianlin's few fans began trying to defend him, but the moment they appeared, Jiang Yao's fans pinned them to the ground. They had all been in the industry for years—who did not know who?

Zhang Jianlin had exposed his true nature long ago. If he had not been blasted online last night, why would he be so proactive today? Did you see the dark circles under your Uncle Zhang's eyes? He spent the whole night reading our comments and could not sleep! Now he's trying to make up for it!

By then, Zhang Jianlin had already put on a raincoat. Even if knives rained from the sky today, he was going out.

It was all footage anyway, so the production crew arranged for two staff members to accompany him.

Jiang Yao's little face was flushed bright red from the fever as she curled pitifully under the blankets. Song Yalin took the cold medicine and gestured for everyone else to leave.

Everyone stood in the living room, unsure what to do, when Jiang Tingxu suddenly said quietly to Si You, "Come with me."

Si You did not understand why, but immediately followed him.

The two went to the kitchen, where Jiang Tingxu took out a cup of prepared cold medicine and handed it to Si You. "Drink it."

Si You thought of the ginger tea from that day. Jiang Tingxu really did things without drawing attention to himself.

Si You did not stand on ceremony. Through their repeated interactions, he and Jiang Tingxu had gradually built a certain tacit understanding and trust.

"How did you know I needed it?"

"I heard you cough several times during breakfast," Jiang Tingxu said. "When Zhang Jianlin gets back with cold medicine, take some too."

Unfortunately, with rain this heavy, the pharmacy had also closed. No one answered the number on the shutter door, either.

Zhang Jianlin was quite dejected.

The doctor said he had already set out and would get there as soon as possible.

Jiang Tingxu frowned slightly as he worked his phone, apparently sending messages. Just as Xue Boyu was about to say something to him, Si You suddenly covered his mouth and coughed softly. Jiang Tingxu continued operating his phone one-handed, freeing the other to pat Si You on the back.

Xue Boyu's body immediately stiffened. A flash of white light crossed his mind, and in the end, all his emotions condensed into three words: I ship it.

He had never understood what fans were screaming "Ahhh!" about before. So it turned out that entering the world of shipping required a catalyst.

And the entire scene was captured by a camera positioned at a particularly tricky angle.

The barrage began flooding with endless ellipses again, nearly as relentless as the downpour outside.