40: These stockings are really pretty.

"Ning Yutong even talks to you about this?" Yu Heng shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth and looked up at Shen Yueling.

Shen Yueling unhurriedly picked up a piece of potato with her chopsticks. "Why? Is there a problem?"

"No, of course not." Yu Heng grinned. "Has the relationship between you two softened?"

"When was our relationship ever strained?" Shen Yueling raised an eyebrow. "Hasn't it always been quite good?"

Not strained? Fine, if that's how you want to put it.

Yu Heng narrowed his eyes. It was a good thing he hadn't tried to play peacemaker in front of both of them, or he would have ended up looking like a fool to everyone.

"Alright, I'm done eating." Shen Yueling stood up. "Do you have things to do this afternoon?"

"Yeah," Yu Heng checked the time. "Qin Ya is coming over at two for her stream."

"Qin Ya?" Shen Yueling raised an eyebrow. "Who's that now?"

"Our Counselor's daughter," Yu Heng explained simply. "She dropped out of school and is staying at home, so she's coming here to try streaming."

Shen Yueling was silent for two seconds before suddenly laughing. "Your place is fast becoming a shelter."

"What shelter?" Yu Heng countered. "This is a talent incubation base."

"Whatever you say." Shen Yueling picked up her bag. "I'm leaving. Tonight..."

She paused, leaving the sentence unfinished.

"What about tonight?" Yu Heng pressed.

"Nothing." Shen Yueling turned and left.

Yu Heng watched her back. This woman always left things half-said.

After finishing his meal, he strolled back to the Villa.

Just as he entered the door, his phone rang.

It was a call from the courier.

"Hello, you have a package. I've left it at the pickup station."

"Okay, got it."

The camera had arrived.

Yu Heng checked the time; it was 1:30 PM.

There was enough time to go get it.

He locked the door and walked toward the campus courier station.

He ran into a few classmates on the way and nodded in greeting.

At the station, he queued up and collected his package.

The box wasn't big, but it was quite heavy.

Yu Heng carried the box back, his mind already racing with how to test the equipment.

If he was filming Ning Yutong, what should the first video be?

An outfit change?

Or just a dance?

He needed to find a good background.

The lighting in the Villa's living room was decent; with the lights on at night, it should be fine.

Or maybe find somewhere on campus to film?

While he was thinking, his phone vibrated again.

Ning Yutong sent a message: "Shall we have hotpot tonight? I know a newly opened place, the soup base is really fragrant!"

Yu Heng typed with one hand: "Sure, you decide."

"Great! Then I'll wait for you at the school gate at six!"

Yu Heng put away his phone and quickened his pace.

He returned to the Villa exactly five minutes before two.

He put the camera box in the living room just as the doorbell rang.

Opening the door, he saw Qin Lu standing outside. Today she had changed into a light gray knitted long dress with a khaki trench coat over it.

Her hair was still up in a bun, revealing her fair neck.

"The Counselor is here," Yu Heng stepped aside. "Where's Qin Ya?"

"Behind me." Qin Lu stepped to the side.

"Come on in." Yu Heng made way.

Qin Ya poked her head out from behind her. Today she wasn't wearing a hoodie and hot pants, but a long down jacket instead.

So she actually knew what cold felt like.

Just as he was muttering to himself, Qin Ya took off the down jacket. Well then, she was wearing a tank top and shorts underneath.

Yu Heng looked at Qin Ya. "How did you feel about yesterday's stream?"

"It was okay." Qin Ya curled her lip, but her eyes were scanning the living room. "Is it still that ugly skin today?"

"For now, yes," Yu Heng said. "Once I design a skin for you, you'll be able to use it in a while. But you have to promise to stream at least five days a week."

"Fine, I'll stream!" Qin Ya huffed and walked straight upstairs.

Qin Lu finished changing her shoes and straightened up. "This child has no manners at all."

"It's fine," Yu Heng smiled. "Having a personality is good."

The two of them went to the living room sofa and sat down.

Yu Heng poured a glass of water and handed it to Qin Lu. "Have some water, Counselor."

"Thank you." Qin Lu took it and took a sip. "Yu Heng, there's progress regarding the club."

Yu Heng's eyes lit up. "What's the word?"

"The department has agreed in principle," Qin Lu put down the water glass, "but there are conditions."

"Please, go on."

"First, club activities must not interfere with normal teaching order." Qin Lu held up one finger. "Second, all streaming content must be healthy and positive; no playing 'edge-ball' or suggestive content."

She paused and looked at Yu Heng. "Especially the second point; the department leadership emphasized it specifically."

Yu Heng clicked his tongue inwardly.

Healthy and positive?

No suggestive content?

Then what's the point of streaming?

But on the surface, he still smiled and nodded. "Understood, understood. We will definitely follow the rules. So, when can recruitment start?"

"It can start now," Qin Lu thought for a moment. "You start recruiting first, and I'll look into finding an activity classroom for you."

"Great!" Yu Heng rubbed his hands. "As for the equipment and such..."

"The department can lend you some lighting equipment," Qin Lu said. "But you'll mostly have to rely on yourselves."

"That's fine, no problem," Yu Heng grinned. "We'll take it slow."

He hadn't expected the school to provide much in terms of material support anyway.

The living room fell silent.

Yu Heng glanced at Qin Lu. She was looking down at her phone, her coat open, and the black stockings covering her legs shimmered with a delicate luster.

Not flesh-colored stockings today?

These black stockings were quite something. His throat felt a bit dry, and a bold thought popped into his head.

"Counselor," he spoke, his voice slightly lower than usual.

Qin Lu looked up at him.

Yu Heng met her gaze and said with a slight smile, "The stockings you're wearing today are really beautiful."

As soon as he said it, a flash of astonishment crossed Qin Lu's face, followed by a complex expression. Her tone carried a hint of feigned anger: "Yu Heng, speak properly."

"Haha, just telling the truth." Yu Heng chuckled sheepishly and quit while he was ahead, not pursuing the topic further. Instead, he asked, "Counselor, is Qin Ya's father away all year round?"

Qin Lu glanced at him. "Why are you asking that?"

"Just asking casually," Yu Heng pretended to be nonchalant. "I see you raising her alone all the time; it must be hard."

Qin Lu was silent for a few seconds before saying flatly, "He works out of town. He might not even come back once or twice a month."

"Oh..." Yu Heng nodded. "That really isn't easy."

"I'm used to it." Qin Lu's tone was devoid of emotion.

Qin Ya's voice came from upstairs: "What do you care how old I am?"

Yu Heng and Qin Lu looked at each other and both laughed.

"This child..." Qin Lu shook her head, but her eyes were full of mirth.

Looking at her smile, Yu Heng's heart skipped a beat.

When this woman smiled, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes actually added a bit of charm.

The allure of a mature woman was something young girls couldn't compare to.

"Counselor," he spoke again, "since you're usually alone, what do you do on weekends?"

Qin Lu looked up at him. "Why are you so talkative today?"

"Haha," Yu Heng chuckled. "Since we're just sitting here anyway, might as well chat."

"Read books, watch movies," Qin Lu said. "Occasionally take Qin Ya out for a stroll."

"Oh..." Yu Heng nodded. "That sounds quite peaceful."

Qin Lu didn't respond and went back to looking at her phone.

Yu Heng didn't ask anything else either.

These things couldn't be rushed; he had to take it slow.

After a while, the noise upstairs stopped.

Qin Ya came pitter-pattering down the stairs in her slippers, her face full of excitement. "Mom! Someone bought me a Captain today!"

"Captain?" Qin Lu frowned. "What's that?"

"It's a gift!" Qin Ya ran to Qin Lu. "It's over a hundred yuan!"

Qin Lu looked at Yu Heng.

Yu Heng explained, "It's a virtual gift tipped by a viewer. One costs 138 yuan, and the Streamer gets half after the platform takes its cut."

Qin Lu's frown deepened. "This money..."

"It's legitimate income," Yu Heng said quickly. "Legal and compliant."

Seeing Qin Ya's excitement, Qin Lu gave a doting smile. "To get that on your second day is actually quite good."

"Right!" Qin Ya sat on the sofa with a grin. "I streamed for an hour and a half today, and the peak concurrent viewers reached over thirty!"

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. "Quick progress, well done!"

"Of course," Qin Ya lifted her chin proudly. "I'm a very fast learner."

Yu Heng smiled. Even a tsundere loli gets dazed by such praise and forgets to be prickly.

"Can you stick it out for three hours next time?" Yu Heng looked at her and said, "The longer you stream, the better the traffic will be."