Yaoyao was targeted by trolls

Over the countless ages, he had seen far more than tens of millions of women—gentle, alluring, clever, resolute, and every kind in between. To him, romantic love had long since become a passing memory.

Now that he had returned, his only unwavering wish was to protect his younger sister, Chen Siyao. Everything else could take its course.

When Song Xinxue saw that he did not respond, she was not discouraged. She simply assumed he was still as reserved as ever. Smiling, she took out her phone and said, "Chen Hao, let's add each other on WeChat."

"That way, we can get in touch whenever something comes up with the apartment. Besides, we haven't seen each other in so many years. It's about time we old classmates got together."

Chen Hao nodded, took out his phone, and exchanged WeChat contacts with Song Xinxue.

As the sun sank in the west, the three of them left Baotian City.

Only after the car pulled out of the residential complex did Yang Wanqing lean toward the front seats, unable to contain her curiosity. "Yaoyao, that old classmate of your brother's is really pretty. And she's clearly interested in him!"

Chen Siyao smiled too. She watched Baotian City recede in the rearview mirror, amusement in her eyes. "I can tell. But who can ever figure out what my brother is thinking?"

"You can't secretly get a girlfriend, you know. I have to meet her and approve her first. You're so handsome, I'm worried some vixen will steal you away."

Looking at his teasing sister, Chen Hao patted her head. "Yaoyao, I got used to being alone while studying in the mountains. I haven't considered that yet."

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to screen them properly for you!" Chen Siyao said delightedly.

Beside her, Yang Wanqing immediately chimed in, "Me too, me too! Chen Hao is my big brother too. I want a say!" He's so handsome and so talented. There are bound to be plenty of vixens after him. I have to keep an eye on things and chase them all away. Then he'll be mine, won't he? Hehe.

Chen Hao shook his head. His life spanned thirty thousand years, and he had once had several beloved companions. Love that could not last only brought him more sorrow. Unfortunately, the spiritual energy of the world had now vanished, leaving cultivation impossible.

On the second day after moving into the sprawling penthouse apartment in Baotian City, Chen Siyao started a livestream.

The moment she aimed the camera at the living room's ten-meter-wide panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea, the handful of viewers in her stream began multiplying at a visibly frantic rate.

[Yaoyao is super sweet today]: Wow! Did Yaoyao move? That view is incredible!

[Milk tea without sugar]: Oh my god... isn't this Baotian City in Pengcheng? I went to see it before. Those ultra-luxury apartments average over a hundred thousand yuan per square meter!

Barely two admiring comments had floated across the screen before a dense flood of suspicion and mockery followed. Every comment carried a barb, making Chen Siyao's fingers tense slightly.

[Keyboard warrior himself]: What a load of crap. It's rented, right? Influencers will rent anything for views these days. Playing the wealthy heiress, are we?

[Here for the drama]: I bet a hundred yuan it's rented! Some nobody streamer with no connections moves into a mansion worth tens of millions overnight? Who are you trying to fool?

[Clear-Eyed Observer]: Why keep pretending you're so innocent? You used to whine every day about coming from an ordinary family, and now you're living in a luxury apartment. You must have found some rich heir to bankroll you, right?

[I'm a tycoon]: Pretty good at taking shortcuts, aren't you? I used to think she was wholesome. Turns out she's just another gold digger. Her whole image is ruined!

[All-talk champion 666]: Hilarious. You actually dare to show off the mansion? Your sugar daddy will probably kick you out once he gets bored. Let's see how you explain that!

The few comments defending Chen Siyao were swallowed by the abuse the instant they appeared, without causing so much as a ripple.

[Little strawberry isn't sour]: Stop making things up! Yaoyao isn't that kind of person!

[Yaoyao's Little Red Riding Hood]: Her brother sold a painting a few days ago to buy the apartment. Stop assuming the worst about people!

[I Am Ying Zheng]: Someone in the business told me that a work of calligraphy and painting by Tang Bohu really was auctioned in Pengcheng a few days ago.

Chen Siyao's hand trembled slightly around her phone, and a trace of hurt crept into her eyes.

She had only wanted to share the joy of moving into her new home with her fans. But as she watched the vile remarks fill the screen, her smile gradually froze. At first, she had meant to ignore them, believing the truth would speak for itself.

Yet the trolls grew increasingly vicious. Their accusations escalated from claiming she had rented the apartment to personal attacks and even fabricated rumors that she was a kept woman. They brazenly paraded those claims through her stream, leaving her chest tight with distress.

I just want to stream in peace. Why are they attacking me so maliciously? My brother bought this apartment for me. How did it become a rental, or proof that I'd taken some shady shortcut? If this keeps up, these rumors will destroy my streaming account...

She drew a deep breath, forced back the sting in her eyes, and softly told the camera, "That's all for today," before hurriedly ending the stream.

As soon as the phone screen went dark, she could no longer hold it in. She turned and walked quickly to the study. Chen Hao was sitting on a plain daybed by the window, resting with his eyes closed, a faint air of serenity surrounding him.

"Big brother..." Chen Siyao's voice caught with a trace of wounded emotion.

Chen Hao slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of concern passing through them. "What's wrong?"

"I just started a stream, and so many people were insulting me. They said the apartment was rented, that I'd found a sugar daddy, that my whole image had fallen apart..." Chen Siyao lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes between her fingers.

"I don't want to stream at home anymore. Could we go somewhere and do outdoor streams instead? Somewhere scenic. I promised my fans I'd do outdoor streams before, anyway. Things should be fine once this blows over."

Seeing how hurt his sister was, Chen Hao felt a trace of anger stir in the depths of a heart that had remained still for countless ages.

Yaoyao is kind and pure-hearted. She shouldn't have to endure such vile abuse. Outdoor streaming might be a good idea. After a moment's thought, Chen Hao said, "All right. Let's go to the Northern Frontier."

Chen Siyao trusted her brother unconditionally and nodded at once. "Okay! We'll go to the Northern Frontier! Everyone says you have to visit it at least once in your life. I'll ask Qingqing to come too!"

Chen Hao tapped lightly against the edge of the daybed, images from a thousand years ago flashing through his mind. Back then, the lands beyond the frontier had been barren and deserted, inhabited only by soldiers guarding the border, with weapons gleaming, warhorses charging, and yellow sand filling the sky.

That man in armor, with his steadfast gaze, had been unremarkable in appearance, yet accomplished in both letters and warfare.

He had been shamelessly thick-skinned too. He would always interrupt Chen Hao while he was fishing, clap him on the shoulder, and say with a laugh that once the war was over, he would lay down his armor and return to the countryside, writing poems and painting to leave behind a literary reputation that would endure through the ages.

Yet he had ultimately died on the battlefield, still wearing his armor to the very end. A thousand years had passed since Chen Hao last saw him. I wonder how tall the grass has grown before his grave. This trip should help Yaoyao too.

Three days later, Chen Hao drove Chen Siyao and Yang Wanqing to the foot of Green Mountain, outside the city in the Northern Frontier.

Far from the noise of the city, verdant mountains rose in overlapping layers and streams murmured gently. The snow on the summit looked as though it had just been set ablaze. It was a completely different world from bustling, prosperous Pengcheng. The moment Chen Siyao parked the car, she started another livestream, aiming the camera at the flawless blue sky outside the window.

There were still few viewers in the stream, and most were the same trolls and spectators as before.

[Yaoyao is super sweet today]: Wow! It's so beautiful here! Where is this?

[Here for the drama]: A new location for another scripted act? Trying out the country heiress experience this time?

[Keyboard warrior himself]: Why pretend to be some artsy girl? You're still just fishing for attention, aren't you? I bet you couldn't afford the mansion's rent anymore and ran off to hide in the mountains.

Chen Siyao suppressed her discomfort and smiled into the camera. "Hi, everyone. We're in the Northern Frontier now. The scenery here is wonderful. There are mountains, rivers, and a rich sense of history."