15: A lone man and a lone woman!

"This is just the follower growth from the stream. It'll be even faster once you post a few videos later!" Yu Heng said.

Bai Xinran took off her headphones, stretched, and suddenly curled her lip. "It's just that some people are so rude."

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong?"

"Look at these bullet chat comments," Bai Xinran pointed at the screen. "If they don't like it, they shouldn't watch. Why do they have to post a comment just to get attention?"

"Upset already?" Yu Heng pulled over a chair and sat down. "The most important thing for a Streamer is their mindset."

Bai Xinran frowned. "But the things they say are so nasty."

"So what if they're nasty?" Yu Heng shrugged. "Can you control what other people say?"

He pointed at the follower count in the backend. "Look, you gained over two thousand followers today. Some people don't like you, but others do."

Bai Xinran was still a bit unhappy. "But..."

"No 'buts'," Yu Heng interrupted her. "Let me ask you, were you happy interacting with those fans today?"

"I was happy, but..."

"Then that's enough," Yu Heng patted her shoulder. "Focus on the people who support you. Those trolls aren't your audience, and they certainly won't spend money on you."

Bai Xinran sighed. "I'm just a bit frustrated."

"Frustrated about what?" Yu Heng laughed. "Your gift income today is almost ten thousand; what's there to be frustrated about?"

He clicked on the gift list. "See? So many people are willing to spend money on you. What can those trolls do besides type a few words?"

Bai Xinran looked at the gift records, and her expression softened slightly.

Yu Heng continued, "You have to be open-minded in this industry. It's perfectly normal for some people to like you and others to dislike you."

"I know..." Bai Xinran said softly. "It's just my first time being scolded by so many people. I'm not used to it."

"You'll get used to it," Yu Heng grinned. "Once you're famous, even more people will scold you."

Bai Xinran glared at him. "Is that supposed to be comforting?"

"Just telling the truth," Yu Heng spread his hands. "Look at those big Streamers—which one hasn't been scolded? The more famous you are, the more haters you have. And the more they hate, the more famous you get!"

He stood up to pour a glass of water. "If you cared about all that, you'd be crying every other day."

"It's not that bad!" Bai Xinran curled her lip.

"Actually, look at it from another perspective," Yu Heng continued. "Being scolded means you have attention. It's scarier when no one is scolding you, because that means no one is watching at all."

Bai Xinran burst out laughing. "What kind of twisted logic is that?"

"It's the truth," Yu Heng said righteously. "Even bad publicity is still publicity. Besides..."

He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "Those people scolding you might actually be the ones enjoying your stream the most. They post those comments just to get your attention, hoping you'll scold them!"

Bai Xinran raised an eyebrow. "Huh? There are people who want to be scolded?"

"Of course!" Yu Heng looked at her and smiled. "Shouldn't you be the one who understands that best?"

Bai Xinran froze upon hearing this, becoming uncharacteristically hesitant. "Boss! I should head back!"

Yu Heng chuckled. "It's past 10 PM. Why bother going back? They don't do dorm inspections during the holidays anyway."

"That won't do," Bai Xinran grabbed her backpack. "A man and a woman all alone!"

Yu Heng held down her backpack strap. "What are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat you. Besides, the dorm building will be locked by the time you get back."

Bai Xinran frowned and checked her phone. "It's only ten-thirty. The dorms don't lock until eleven."

"It's a twenty-minute walk back to campus from here," Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. "What if you run into a creep on the way?"

Bai Xinran curled her lip. "I've practiced Chinese Kickboxing. Who's afraid of who?"

Yu Heng clicked his tongue inwardly. He simply slumped onto the sofa. "Suit yourself!"

Bai Xinran stood there hesitating for a few seconds when her stomach suddenly growled.

She awkwardly rubbed her stomach. "I didn't eat dinner..."

Yu Heng was amused. "There's instant noodles in the kitchen. Go cook them yourself."

"You're making an employee eat instant noodles?" Bai Xinran glared at him.

"Then what do you want? I'll order takeout for you." Yu Heng took out his phone. "BBQ? Fried chicken?"

Bai Xinran's eyes lit up. "BBQ! And make it extra spicy!"

Yu Heng muttered while placing the order, "Fine. We made plenty today anyway. Let's feast!"

With nearly ten thousand in gifts, half of that was four to five thousand. According to the split, Yu Heng would still net over a thousand.

While waiting for the takeout, Bai Xinran packed up the streaming equipment.

"Are we streaming at this time tomorrow too?" Yu Heng asked.

"Yeah," Bai Xinran said without looking up. "But I need to go back to the dorm to get a few changes of clothes."

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. "Are you really planning to stay here long-term?"

Bai Xinran's hands paused. "Didn't you say I could move in?"

"I was considering the stream," Yu Heng grinned. "Don't get the wrong idea."

"Who's getting the wrong idea!" Bai Xinran wound up the sound card cable. "I'm just doing it for convenience, and I'm only staying for these two days! I'll only come over on weekends after that!"

The takeout arrived, and the two sat on the living room rug eating BBQ. Bai Xinran was starving, her mouth covered in grease as she gnawed on chicken wings.

Yu Heng handed her a tissue. "Eat slower. No one's going to take it from you."

Bai Xinran said indistinctly, "I have to say, streaming for this long really drains your energy."

"That's why you need to replenish your protein," Yu Heng intentionally picked up a Kidney skewer. "Here, try this."

Bai Xinran pushed it away in disgust. "Eat it yourself!"

Yu Heng found it funny. If this were He Mengyao, she would have blushed and called him a rogue by now.

Bai Xinran was quite straightforward—actually, too straightforward, which made it less interesting.

Of course, it was also possible that Bai Xinran's contrasting side was hidden deeper.

By the time they finished eating and cleaning up, it was almost midnight.

Bai Xinran checked the time. "I really can't go back now..."

Yu Heng pointed to the guest room. "The sheets are in the closet. Make the bed yourself."

Bai Xinran carried the sheets into the guest room. Yu Heng followed and leaned against the doorframe. "Need help?"

"No," Bai Xinran briskly made the bed. "Get out. I'm taking off my clothes to sleep."

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. "So what if you are? Why so formal?"

"Get out!" Bai Xinran pushed him straight out and slammed the door shut.

Yu Heng rubbed his nose outside the door.

This woman had quite a grip. It seemed her Chinese Kickboxing wasn't just talk.

He went back to his room and lay on the bed scrolling through his phone.

There was a new message on WeChat. He Mengyao had sent a sticker: "Want to go get milk tea?"

Yu Heng replied: "Tomorrow afternoon. Where should we meet?"

He Mengyao replied instantly: "The milk tea shop at school?"

Yu Heng: "Sure."

Was it because the way they met in this life was different?

He Mengyao's initiative was quite different from when he was chasing her in his previous life.

Just then, Bai Xinran knocked on Yu Heng's door, her voice muffled through the wood. "Boss, are you asleep?"

Yu Heng sat up upon hearing the noise. "Not yet. What's up?"

He pulled open the door. Bai Xinran was standing there, her hair a bit messy.

"Um... do you have an extra bath towel or regular towel here?" she said with a sheepish smile. "I want to take a shower, but I didn't bring anything."

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over her. "A bath towel... let me think..."

Bai Xinran rubbed the floor with her toe. "If you don't have one, then forget it. I can just wipe off with tissues."

Yu Heng laughed at that. Why was another one so stubborn?

"Wait here." Yu Heng turned and pulled a gray bath towel from the closet. "It's new, never used."

Bai Xinran took the towel and murmured softly, "Thanks..."