The puzzled crowd

"What's 'crossing the line'?" Xia Ye asked curiously.

"Look," Lin Yuan said, pointing at his phone screen, "Several topics about college graduates' employment mention Song Xiaoxiao."

"Things like, 'Art school graduate can't find a job, reduced to being a streamer,' 'Most tragic college graduate in history,' 'Is college still necessary?'..."

"And look, there are even accounts criticizing the current education system that are using Song Xiaoxiao's situation as evidence. Youth employment is a serious social topic, and you can't just casually touch on such topics. If Song Xiaoxiao becomes a negative example used by some people to vent their dissatisfaction, then the consequences... In short, what she's doing is risky."

Xia Ye didn't understand any of this. "Is it that serious? Xiao Xiao just occasionally connects with some college graduates, that's all."

"She even connects with them?"

"Yeah, she listens to their complaints and shares the ups and downs of their job search. I really enjoy listening too."

Lin Yuan instinctively felt a sense of dread. "The first rule of being an internet celebrity: Do not touch on political or current affairs topics without sufficient knowledge to back it up."

Does Song Xiaoxiao have enough knowledge about current affairs and social topics? Come on, that would be a miracle.

Lin Yuan could already imagine that, with Song Xiaoxiao's carefree personality, she would occasionally blurt out some 'line-crossing' remarks while connecting with others and listening to their complaints.

"Now I understand why she gained 100,000 followers in such a short time. She looks like she's courting disaster."

---

So, Lin Yuan and Xia Ye waited at KFC until Song Xiaoxiao finished her broadcast and returned.

Song Xiaoxiao looked utterly bewildered that Lin Yuan had waited until midnight just to have a serious talk with her about this matter.

"Say what you need to say quickly, I'm dead tired."

"Can you just stick to being an entertainment streamer and not touch on any topics related to politics or social issues?"

"I haven't."

"I watched your live stream connection tonight. What the hell did you say when you connected with that college student?"

"What did I say?"

"You count it yourself, how many times did you curse at schools? What did the college entrance examination system become in your mouth? What did you say about 'hellhole' majors like journalism, biology, chemistry, and materials science? Are you out of your mind to talk about these topics? Even a big internet celebrity like Zhang Xuesong got into trouble over this. Who do you think you are?"

"No... are you telling me how to do things?"

Lin Yuan thought for a moment. "Indeed, yes."

"You, a delivery man, are telling me how to do things?"

Lin Yuan was almost infuriated. "If it weren't for you taking care of Xia Ye like a mother hen, do you think I'd say another word? Song Xiaoxiao, in our country, stability is always the top priority. If you were a frontline educator, then you'd have the right to talk about things you've personally encountered.

But you're not. So don't become an outlet for certain emotions just for traffic. Those emotions will devour you sooner or later."

"Why can't I say it? Are those people who can't find jobs all fake? Do they not exist?"

"I believe that in your previous work, you've seen a lot of what lies beneath the surface of this society. So don't say such naive things. Start reining it in now and go back to being an entertainment streamer. Or you could lean more towards motivational content. Although you'll lose a lot of traffic this way, you'll be very safe."

This time, Song Xiaoxiao finally bowed her head and thought seriously. She pulled out a cigarette pack from her bag.

Lin Yuan snatched it away. "You can't smoke here."

"Damn it!" Song Xiaoxiao slammed the lighter onto the table. Xia Ye, sitting next to her, could only apologize to the waiter with her eyes.

Meanwhile, the KFC staff looked at the man and two women sitting in the corner with puzzled expressions, imagining their complex relationships.

After calming down, Song Xiaoxiao spoke, "You're right. But I don't want to miss this wave of traffic. Do you know how rare an opportunity like this is? Many people will never have such an opportunity in their lives. I can't give up because of such a small risk. Look at those people online, how many internet celebrities rose by crossing the red line. Compared to them, what's my little bit?"

"Who am I?" Song Xiaoxiao lowered her voice. "To put it bluntly, I'm a whore. You're a damn delivery man, and Xia Ye is an idiot.

What can we do?

What else can you do besides deliver food?

What do you expect Xia Ye to do? What do you expect me to do?"

"This small risk is nothing to me. Even if I really cross the line, it's just getting my account banned. It's not like I'll be sent to jail for it, right?"

Lin Yuan replied, "That certainly won't happen."

"So, let's give it a shot. Maybe we'll be able to live in a big house someday. If I chicken out, I won't even have a chance to be a small internet celebrity. There are so many good-looking people online, and so many people who are willing to go all out. I'll be forgotten very quickly. I don't want to go back to my old profession.

You... do you know how disgusted I was facing those greasy pig heads?" As she said this, there were even tears in Song Xiaoxiao's eyes. Xia Ye immediately put her arm around her shoulder.

Lin Yuan sighed. "Can't you just find a good job? I'll try to introduce you to one."

"You?" Song Xiaoxiao laughed so hard tears came out. "You want me and Xia Ye to deliver food with you? Us two wearing black stockings delivering food might actually be a good niche for live streaming."

Lin Yuan was a bit conflicted about whether to tell them his true situation.

Due to his performance in the delivery algorithm, Lin Yuan had already been designated as the technical lead for the Zijin Branch, and the official appointment was just waiting for the headquarters to issue the document.

Therefore, introducing Song Xiaoxiao to a position in the Good Group's public relations department, or a public relations or sales role at another internet company, was actually not very difficult.

Originally, he was enjoying the fun of secretly dating Xia Ye while keeping his identity hidden, but now Song Xiaoxiao was facing real trouble.

However, after careful consideration, Lin Yuan still decided not to tell her.

He had already done his best to warn Song Xiaoxiao, and besides, Song Xiaoxiao was right; the worst outcome was just getting her account banned, and it certainly wouldn't lead to her being sent to jail.

But if Song Xiaoxiao knew his true identity, then with her shrewd and practical nature, she would definitely urge Xia Ye to quickly formalize their relationship and get married. This would make Lin Yuan and Xia Ye's relationship less pure than it was now.

Lin Yuan was more concerned that he didn't really know Song Xiaoxiao well. He wouldn't be so foolish as to develop boundless sympathy for her just because of one moment of genuine emotion from a woman of her background.

Who knew what Song Xiaoxiao would plan for him once she knew he was actually a potential stock.

If it weren't for Xia Ye, Lin Yuan genuinely didn't want to have any dealings with Song Xiaoxiao. Because interacting with such a woman would only bring him trouble.

"Alright. For Xia Ye's sake, I'll say what I think needs to be said. You're an adult, and you should make your own decisions. I see your live streaming is quite busy. Let Xia Ye move out in a few days."

"You want to support Xia Ye?"

"Yes, I'll support her. Don't worry, I can afford her."

Song Xiaoxiao looked at Xia Ye. "Xia Ye, what do you say?"

Xia Ye didn't say anything.

"I understand," Song Xiaoxiao chuckled self-deprecatingly. "A daughter grown up is no longer bound to her parents. Lin Yuan, good girls like Xia Ye are rare. You must cherish her."

Lin Yuan nodded firmly. "I understand. She will live a very good life. Also, if one day you can't make it, I will help you once."

"You help me?" Song Xiaoxiao originally wanted to mock Lin Yuan, but seeing his serious expression, she finally said, "Then I'll thank you two, husband and wife, in advance."

"Xia Ye, I'm not going back tonight."

Song Xiaoxiao walked away alone, like someone heartbroken.

The KFC staff whispered amongst themselves, "That scumbag, look how sad that girl is."

Lin Yuan naturally didn't notice any of this.

But Lin Yuan could understand Song Xiaoxiao's feelings; she must have been very lonely, and her only friend was about to leave. However, Lin Yuan truly wasn't at ease letting Xia Ye continue to stay with such an unstable, highly flammable compound.