The Streamer's Allure: Top Fans Vying for Her Affection - Chapter 16
Chapter 16
After checking out at the register, Jiang Zhouzhou prepared to take the subway back home, clutching several large shopping bags.
Her body was far too frail, and the bag of cat food she had bought made her load incredibly heavy. She had only walked a few steps before a thin layer of sweat broke out on her face.
“Need some help?”
A tall figure blocked her path.
Even as he spoke, he naturally reached out toward Jiang Zhouzhou.
Jiang Zhouzhou hadn’t expected to run into Gu Nanfeng again. Feeling a bit awkward, she declined in a low voice, “Thank you, but these are quite heavy. I don’t want to trouble you.”
Gu Nanfeng smiled. “Are you sure you can carry them yourself?”
His upturned fox-like eyes curved into crescents as he laughed, directly seeing through her concerns. “We’ve already added each other as friends, so we’re… friends now! You’re planning to take the subway back, right? I happen to be taking the subway home too. I’ll walk you to the entrance. There are so many people around, so you don’t have to worry about me doing anything.”
Jiang Zhouzhou hesitated for a moment before handing the heaviest shopping bag to Gu Nanfeng. “Then, I’ll trouble you.”
Gu Nanfeng took the bag naturally, and its weight immediately pulled at his hand.
It must have been hard for such a thin girl to carry something this heavy for so long.
They walked in silence until they reached the subway waiting area. The train Jiang Zhouzhou needed to board was scheduled to arrive in one minute.
“You can give the bag back to me. My train is almost here.”
However, Gu Nanfeng replied, “What a coincidence. We’re taking the same one.”
Jiang Zhouzhou shot him a suspicious look…
Could there really be this many coincidences?
Before long, the subway arrived. Once the passengers had finished disembarking, the crowd waiting on the platform began to surge inside.
Since the subway entrance connected directly to the underground mall, the platform was packed with people.
Jiang Zhouzhou had just stepped on when she was nearly pushed back out. Fortunately, Gu Nanfeng grabbed her and pulled her in.
But before she could even thank him, someone behind her gave a violent shove, sending her crashing right into Gu Nanfeng.
In an instant, the sharp pain in her nose made her eyes well up with tears.
She tried to move away to put some distance between herself and Gu Nanfeng, but the carriage was already completely packed with people.
When the subway suddenly lurched into motion, the inertia sent Jiang Zhouzhou crashing into Gu Nanfeng once more.
“Hiss-”
She let out a soft cry of pain, tears swirling in her eyes.
Gu Nanfeng looked down and saw her pitiful expression, her tears on the verge of falling. He said softly, “It’s crowded. If you can’t stand steadily, you can hold onto me.”
This was his first time squeezing onto a subway, and the cramped atmosphere felt like a novel experience to him.
Jiang Zhouzhou didn’t stand on ceremony. She rested her hand on Gu Nanfeng’s forearm, and as the subway started and stopped, she gripped his firm arm tightly.
After three or four stops, the space around them finally opened up.
“Which station are you getting off at?” Gu Nanfeng asked suddenly.
Jiang Zhouzhou replied, “Wuhua Road Station.”
The subway exit was right across from her apartment complex’s entrance, which was very convenient for her.
After answering, she glanced at Gu Nanfeng again. “You aren’t going to tell me it’s another coincidence… and that you’re getting off at the same station, are you?”
Meeting her suspicious gaze, Gu Nanfeng arched an eyebrow. “Of course not. I still have several stops to go.”
Hearing his answer, the wariness in Jiang Zhouzhou’s eyes visibly faded.
Gu Nanfeng watched the change in her expression, the corners of his mouth curling slightly.
She had a bit of a guard up, but not much.
Truly easy to fool.
When the subway reached Wuhua Road Station, Gu Nanfeng handed her things back to her. “I won’t walk you any further then. Goodbye.”
Jiang Zhouzhou took them and said somewhat sheepishly, “Thank you. I’ll treat you to a meal some other time.”
As soon as she said it, she turned and hurried away without waiting for his response.
After all, she was genuinely worried he might actually take her up on the offer.
Dealing with someone who looked so shrewd could be quite overwhelming.
Jiang Zhouzhou prided herself on not being a genius. To prevent herself from being cheated out of everything she owned, she knew she had to stay far away from people like him.
What Jiang Zhouzhou didn’t know was that after she got off the bus, the man behind her got off as well.
She had even less of an idea that Gu Nanfeng then boarded the subway across the street and headed right back to the mall.
After all, his car was still parked in the garage there!
*
Lin Chen stared at his phone, his expression shifting through various stages of internal conflict.
He wanted to take the initiative and send Jiang Zhouzhou a message, but he had no idea what to say.
Suddenly, his WeChat notification rang.
Lin Chen hurriedly opened the app. When he saw that the message was from Gu Nanfeng, his face immediately fell into a look of disappointment. However, after seeing the content Gu Nanfeng had shared, his lips twitched slightly.
Lin Chen: [Brother Nanfeng, why are you sharing this kind of thing with me?]
On the chat screen, Gu Nanfeng had shared a link to a stream featuring a glamorous female host.
Nanfeng: [Isn’t this the type you’ve always liked?]
Lin Chen: [???]
Lin Chen: [!!!]
Lin Chen: [Don’t slander me! Since when do I like this type? I only like the pure ones. Someone like Zhouzhou is my favorite type. Don’t talk nonsense and ruin my reputation.]
Even through the screen, Gu Nanfeng could tell how agitated Lin Chen was.
Nanfeng: [So, it’s okay for you to spread rumors everywhere about me meeting a female streamer in person and then running away overnight like I’m hopping a freight train?]
Lin Chen: [My bad.]
Gu Nanfeng looked at his phone, his mind wandering slightly.
A face from that morning flashed through his mind-clean and pure, looking soft and weak, yet covered in thorns.
Nanfeng: [Are you actually serious about this Zhouzhou?]
This time, Lin Chen didn’t reply instantly.
It was only after two or three minutes that Lin Chen’s response arrived.
Lin Chen: [I wouldn’t say I’m “serious,” but I definitely have a good impression of her. It might just be the novelty of it. Out of all the streamers right now, she’s the most pleasant to look at, so I couldn’t help but throw a little pocket change her way. Maybe after a while, once the novelty wears off, I’ll stop watching her stream.]
On these streaming platforms, many shared Lin Chen’s mindset.
They would be interested in one streamer today and another tomorrow. Whoever they liked at the moment got the money.
As the saying goes: “Streamers are permanent, but Big Brothers come and go.”
Lin Chen felt he was one of the level-headed ones; there was no way he would actually fall for her.
Nanfeng: [Mm, your thinking is correct.]
Nanfeng: [You’re twenty-three now. You can’t keep thinking about just eating, drinking, and playing like you used to. Sooner or later, you’ll have to inherit the family company. It’s time to learn about business operations and management instead of wasting your time on a female streamer.]
Looking at the message from Gu Nanfeng, Lin Chen suddenly felt that the man was acting very strange today.
This was the first time this normally cold-faced man had ever given him such a long lecture.
But aside from the strangeness, he was also slightly moved.
Lin Chen: [Thanks, Brother Nanfeng. I know you’re looking out for me. I won’t let everyone down.]
Right at that moment, Lin Chen received a notification that Jiang Zhouzhou had started her broadcast. He instantly tossed Gu Nanfeng’s words to the back of his mind.
[Xiaomi Congee has entered the stream]
[Xiaomi Congee: Zhouzhou, you’re finally live! I’ve been waiting all day.]
[Tomato and Egg Stir-fry has entered the stream]
[Vote for Bear has entered the stream]
[Xiaomi Congee sent Fan Badge *1]
[Xiaomi Congee: Zhouzhou’s outfit today is insanely pretty.]
[The big boss Xiaomi Congee is true love, entering the stream first!]
[Chenguang is a Dog: Is this the reason you refused to go out for drinks with me?]
Ever since Lin Chen became obsessed with Zhouzhou, he had turned down several gatherings with his brothers in a row.
Now, if they wanted to catch him, they had to come to this stream.
