39: Occupational disease flared up

"How do you two know each other?" Yu Heng asked.

"During freshman orientation," Zhang Yuchen said. "I was a volunteer for her department and helped her with the registration process."

He paused and added, "We've also met a few times at Student Union events later on."

"Oh," Yu Heng acknowledged.

So that was how it was.

A senior looking after a junior, naturally leading to a pursuit?

"What about you?" Zhang Yuchen turned to look at him. "How do you know her?"

"We met online," Yu Heng said.

"Online?"

"Yeah, she does live streams, and I handle the operations," Yu Heng stated plainly. "It's a business partnership, of sorts."

Zhang Yuchen was clearly taken aback. "Live streaming? What kind of streaming?"

"Virtual Streamer," Yu Heng said. "The kind you see on Bilibili."

Zhang Yuchen frowned. "Xinran is doing that? How come I didn't know?"

Yu Heng didn't elaborate. Since Bai Xinran hadn't mentioned it, it wasn't his place to say more.

Zhang Yuchen was silent for a few seconds before asking, "Are you two always together?"

"Pretty much," Yu Heng replied. "She needs equipment for her streams, and I have it at my place."

"Your place?"

"I rented an apartment off-campus," Yu Heng said. "I use it as a studio."

Zhang Yuchen went silent, looking down as he smoked his cigarette.

He didn't even notice that the cigarette was almost burnt down to the filter.

Looking at him, the slight annoyance in Yu Heng's heart dissipated for some reason.

"Vice President Zhang," he began, "are you interested in Bai Xinran?"

Zhang Yuchen looked up sharply, his ears turning slightly red. "What did you say?"

"Just asking," Yu Heng grinned. "You seem quite concerned about her."

"We're friends," Zhang Yuchen said stiffly. "It's normal to care about a friend."

"True." Yu Heng nodded. "Then it's also quite normal for me, as her business partner, to care about her."

Zhang Yuchen stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed. "Yu Heng, you're a freshman, right?"

"Yeah."

"I'm a sophomore," Zhang Yuchen said. "I've been at this school for a year; there are some things I understand better than you."

"Like what?"

"For example," Zhang Yuchen threw the cigarette butt into the trash can, "when it comes to pursuing a girl, just talking is useless."

He turned to face Yu Heng, his expression calm. "It's about actual actions."

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. "Like sending a fruit basket?"

"Like showing up when she needs you," Zhang Yuchen said. "Like understanding what she truly likes and what she wants."

"Vice President Zhang is right," Yu Heng nodded. "So, do you know what Bai Xinran truly likes?"

Zhang Yuchen choked on his words, opening his mouth but failing to say anything.

"Seems like you don't know either," Yu Heng chuckled. "Well, Senior, I'll take my leave then."

With that, Yu Heng turned and walked away.

He still had dinner with Ning Yutong tonight.

He had to think about what to eat.

Also, the camera should arrive tomorrow.

Once he got it, he'd have to test it out and film a few short videos of Ning Yutong to test the waters.

Right, he also needed to ask how things were going on Qin Ya's end.

How was yesterday's stream, and if she was coming today.

Yu Heng thought as he walked, unknowingly arriving near the teaching building.

At this time, the second class of the morning had just ended, and students were pouring out of the classrooms.

In the crowd, he spotted a familiar figure.

Lin Yu.

It was that cold and aloof girl he had met at the hotpot restaurant last time.

She was walking alone, clutching two books, looking straight ahead with a blank expression.

Yu Heng recalled his previous thought.

With that figure and aura, if she were to stream... Just as he was thinking this, Lin Yu suddenly turned her head, and her gaze met his.

The two of them locked eyes for a second.

Lin Yu gave a slight nod as a greeting and then continued walking forward.

Yu Heng hesitated for a moment before following her.

"Lin Yu," he called out.

Lin Yu stopped and turned to look at him, her eyes questioning.

"I'm Ning Yutong's friend, Yu Heng," he said. "We met at the hotpot restaurant last time."

"I remember," Lin Yu said, her voice clear and cold.

"Um..." Yu Heng gathered his thoughts. "Are you interested in live streaming?"

That's right, his professional habits were kicking in.

Lin Yu was taken aback, her brow furrowing slightly. "Live streaming?"

"Yes," Yu Heng said. "Entertainment streaming."

"Not interested," Lin Yu said flatly, turning to leave.

"Wait," Yu Heng called out. "Hear me out."

Lin Yu looked back at him, her gaze a bit impatient.

"You have great looks," Yu Heng said, "and a very unique aura. If you stream, there's definitely a market for it. Earning ten or twenty thousand a month would be easy."

Lin Yu stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.

It wasn't a happy laugh, but a mocking one.

"Do you guys think that just because a girl has some looks, she should go and monetize them?"

Yu Heng was left speechless.

"I didn't mean it like that..."

"Then what did you mean?" Lin Yu interrupted him. "You think because I look okay, I should go sell smiles online?"

"It's not selling smiles..." Yu Heng tried to explain.

"Is there a difference?" Lin Yu looked at him. "Pleasing an audience in front of a camera—how is that any different from selling smiles?"

After saying that, she turned and walked away.

This time, Yu Heng didn't call after her.

He stood there, watching Lin Yu's back disappear into the crowd.

Well, another door slammed in his face.

Yu Heng rubbed his nose, feeling a bit awkward.

But he didn't think there was anything wrong with his idea.

These days, looks were capital.

If you can monetize it, why wouldn't you?

But someone with Lin Yu's personality... was indeed difficult to handle.

He shook his head and continued walking.

His phone vibrated again.

This time it was a message from Qin Lu: "Yu Heng, Qin Ya wants to come over to stream this afternoon. Are you available?"

Yu Heng replied: "I'm available. What time?"

Qin Lu: "Around two o'clock. I'll drop her off."

"Okay, I'll be waiting at home at two."

After replying, Yu Heng checked the time.

Eleven-thirty.

Time for lunch.

He headed toward the cafeteria, still thinking about what just happened.

Lin Yu's words, though harsh, weren't entirely without merit.

The streaming industry, at its core, was indeed about selling.

Selling a voice, selling an image, selling a persona.

It was just packaged a bit more sophisticatedly.

But then again, which industry in this world isn't about selling something?

It's all the same.

Yu Heng entered the cafeteria, got his food, and found an empty seat.

He'd only taken a couple of bites when someone sat down opposite him.

He looked up to see Shen Yueling.

"What are you doing here?" Yu Heng asked.

"Nonsense, am I not allowed to eat?" Shen Yueling said as she set down her tray.

She was wearing a black knit sweater today with a slightly low neckline, revealing a bit of her collarbone.

Yu Heng took a couple of extra glances.

"What are you looking at?" Shen Yueling glanced at him.

"Looking at how pretty you are," Yu Heng grinned.

Shen Yueling gave a soft hmph and lowered her head to eat.

They ate in silence for a while until Shen Yueling suddenly spoke up: "What did you do yesterday?"

"Yesterday?" Yu Heng thought for a moment. "I was at home."

"The whole day?"

"Pretty much."

Shen Yueling looked up at him. "Wasn't Bai Xinran sick? You didn't go see her?"

Yu Heng's movements paused.

"How did you know she was sick?"

"Ning Yutong told me," Shen Yueling said. "She said Bai Xinran caught a cold and was getting an IV at the infirmary."

Yu Heng nodded. "I went to see her this morning."

"Just for a bit?"

"What else?" Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. "Stay with her all day?"

Shen Yueling didn't reply, picking up a piece of eggplant and chewing it slowly.

Yu Heng looked at her, wondering what this woman was actually trying to ask.

And how did they even get in touch?

Since Ning Yutong visited the house last time, did she and Bai Xinran add each other on WeChat?

Do they just chat for no reason now?

Had the relationship between Shen Yueling and Ning Yutong improved?

Her mindset must have changed, so she doesn't see Ning Yutong as a potential rival anymore, right?