Chapter 16
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Zhang Bu and his accomplices were arrested, and after the police confirmed their identities as serial killers, a nationwide alert was issued. Following a positive confirmation from Yuan Siyu, Liuliu went live to share the events of recent days with her followers.
Although the general details had been seen in the police alert, Liuliu’s firsthand account added chilling, vivid details that made her viewers pale.
She exhaled deeply. “I’m telling you all this because I want to warn everyone that even if you do good deeds in the future, you must remain vigilant. Many villains are utterly heartless—they exploit people’s kindness and sympathy.”
Glancing at the comments calling her lucky, she smiled softly. “Yes, I was lucky. If it weren’t for Master Rong, none of you would be watching this live stream.”
Before going live, Liuliu had two goals: to remind netizens to stay safe and to promote Rong Jing’s business.
Now that she had the chance, she naturally steered the conversation toward Rong Jing. “Yeah, that handsome young man I met at the street stall. Coincidentally, after the incident, I went to Changhua Street for a walk and ran into him selling his goods. What happened next is the viral video you’ve all seen.”
“Yes,” Liuliu smiled, eyes twinkling, “he’s the hostage who fought the suspect.”
The chat exploded with question marks and exclamation points, a clear sign of how stunned her fans were.
“Wow! I watched that video. Our coach said the young man is a great martial arts talent and wanted to invite him to join our school. Never thought he was a real Taoist.”
“Liuliu really met a benefactor.”
“I was at the scene yesterday. It was so intense.”
“Is that little Taoist really that accurate with his divinations? Or is this some hype the streamer and him cooked up?”
“Why would they hype a criminal case for publicity? Besides, that kid really helped during the incident.”
“The previous comment shows narrow-mindedness. I’m not denying Rong Jing’s contribution, but I think they might be using this case as a springboard. With such a great buzz, it would be easier to run a scam, right?”
Liuliu noticed the shift from admiration to suspicion in the comments, especially from a user named Zhang Liu, who repeatedly called it a ‘scam business.’ Her brow furrowed slightly.
But she quickly relaxed, her expression calm as she said, “Everyone here is an adult and can make their own decisions. I’m not forcing you. If you need it and trust me, support Rong Jing’s business. If not, then don’t waste words. If he were a conman, the police would have arrested him already. No need for you to worry.”
Most of Liuliu’s followers had accompanied her for years and knew her character well—they trusted she wouldn’t deceive them.
They comforted her in the chat.
Minutes later, Zhang Liu appeared again, saying, “Alright, streamer, don’t struggle. Brother Chang is already checking the truth for everyone.”
Brother Chang?
Liuliu ran the name through her mind, her brow raising slightly.
The short video platform she was on was called Yunyu, filled with creators of all kinds. She had gained fame making desserts, while Brother Chang was known for flaunting wealth, amassing over ten million followers.
His videos usually featured him driving luxury cars, visiting upscale venues, and occasionally holding fan gatherings during live streams as perks.
Everyone assumed he was a second-generation rich kid.
Brother Chang went to see Rong Jing?
… Somehow, it seemed like he was the one riding the wave of popularity.
Liuliu didn’t have a good impression of Brother Chang and rolled her eyes discreetly.
She found his live stream and watched as he provoked Rong Jing. Clenching her fists, she waved them fiercely out of the camera’s view.
She really wanted to punch that fool straight out of town.
Just then, a lazy voice sounded, making Liuliu’s eyes light up.
Having experienced Rong Jing’s uncanny accuracy herself, she couldn’t agree more with the unknown voice’s suggestion—she was practically bursting to show her wholehearted support.
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Without hesitation, she chimed into Brother Chang’s stream, egging him on: “Yeah, Brother Chang, if you want to expose a fake, this is the easiest way.”
Liuliu’s appearance caught the crowd’s attention.
Naturally, the rowdy viewers eager for entertainment jumped in.
Soon, the entire chat was flooded with “Let’s do it,” and some well-meaning fans even whipped up a detailed guide on how to be outrageously arrogant in seven steps.
The skyrocketing viewer count tempted Brother Chang, but the chaotic hype made him frown deeply.
“I know flipping the script can expose a fake, but how exactly do I act arrogant? Should I drive my new Lamborghini recklessly downtown? That just invites the cops to take me away. I might as well just give this ‘Master’ a hundred thousand yuan.”
He emphasized the word ‘Master’ mockingly.
Brother Chang was no fool.
If he actually acted that way, Yunyu would blacklist him as a ‘disgraced streamer,’ effectively ending his career.
That would perfectly fit the divination’s prediction of a career cut short.
The audience found his reasoning sound, and the chat slowed.
Rong Jing showed no particular reaction to Brother Chang’s taunts, just resting his pale face in his hands, speaking innocently: “You don’t need to do anything special. Just act like you normally do.”
The divination had already shown that his usual demeanor was arrogant enough.
Brother Chang blinked, then looked Rong Jing up and down, surprised. “Are you sure?”
Rong Jing nodded. “Of course.”
A smile returned to Brother Chang’s face, eyebrows arching. “Alright then, one month challenge—deal?”
Rong Jing replied, “No need for a month. Seven days is enough.”
Seven days?
Brother Chang nearly laughed aloud.
He had planned to give Rong Jing more time to struggle but hadn’t expected such confidence.
He waved his hand, agreeing to seven days, then stood up to leave.
As he walked out, he glanced at his follower count, which had surged by nearly ten thousand in ten minutes. He shouted back while leaving, “If you want to know whether this ‘Master Rong’ really lives up to other streamers’ hype, follow the streamer. In seven days, I’ll expose his true colors!”
Right after his shout, the number of followers climbed again.
Brother Chang smirked and climbed into his luxury car, satisfied.
Elsewhere, the crowd around the stall gradually dispersed.
But a tall, slender figure moved against the flow and approached the stall.
Elegantly adjusting his suit jacket, he pulled out a chair and sat down.
The man’s handsome face broke into a smile as he nodded to Rong Jing. “Little Taoist, read my fortune.”
Rong Jing’s gaze shifted from Brother Chang’s right rear and narrowed at the man, then asked, “What kind of fortune?”
The man thoughtfully stroked his chin. “How about you tell me my name?”
Rong Jing: “…”
Nearby, Mo Jingtong propped up his head, watching the man with an expression of disbelief.
He thought the man shouldn’t be asking for divination but should get his head checked instead.
The two exchanged candid, unguarded looks, but the man seemed oblivious, smiling and teasing, “What, can’t do it?”
“I can. Five hundred.”
“Paid,” the man said as he waved his phone before Rong Jing, the screen flashing “Payment Successful” clearly. “Now you can tell me my name.”
With the man’s intrigued gaze on him, Rong Jing remained expressionless and delivered his verdict: “Perpetual runner-up.”
Lu Yunji’s smile stiffened. “………?”
…
7 p.m.
Rong Jing packed up his divination stall and headed toward a restaurant.
As he entered the private room with the waiter, his ears twitched at Lu Yunji’s complaint:
“I say, Xie Changshi, has Little Tail been hanging out with you too long? He’s turned from a pure, tender little rice cake into a black sesame dumpling.”
Xie Changshi, already informed by Song Qing about today’s events on Changhua Street, barely raised his eyelids. “If he’s a black sesame dumpling, then what are you?”
Black-hearted or not, Lu Yunji dared to call Rong Jing the naïve little zombie with a dark heart?
“Per-pet-u-al run-ner-up!” Rong Jing’s voice suddenly came from behind, followed by his head peeking over Xie Changshi’s shoulder, making a face at Lu Yunji, who was trying to complain.
Lu Yunji: “…”
What was going on? He finally had a chance to badmouth Little Tail and got caught red-handed.
Clearing his throat, Lu Yunji rubbed his nose and negotiated with Rong Jing: “Little Tail, give me some face. Stop calling yourself ‘runner-up’ all the time. It sounds awful. Call me Brother Yunji instead.”
No sooner had he spoken than his calf tingled.
He lifted the tablecloth to see Xie Changshi calmly pulling back his long leg.
Lu Yunji: “… Why did you kick me?”
Xie Changshi glanced at him. “You must be seeing things. If your eyesight is bad, I suggest you go to the hospital first.”
Lu Yunji: “?”
Was it his poor eyesight or Xie Changshi’s early dementia, forgetting his mischief moments after doing it?
Lu Yunji sneered.
Xie Changshi ignored him, gesturing for Rong Jing to sit beside him. He rolled up his shirt sleeves, revealing a slender, pale wrist adorned with a red string. Looking down, he handed Rong Jing a freshly rinsed glass of water.
Rong Jing didn’t find anything odd about the gesture. He took the water and said, “Assistant Song said the sauerkraut fish here is especially delicious. I want to try it.”
“Sure.”
Lu Yunji suppressed a grin for three seconds, then, seeing how affectionate they looked, couldn’t resist teasing Xie Changshi: “Boss Xie, do you remember my grandmother?”
Xie Changshi paused, looked up at him, and asked, “What are you getting at?”
Lu Yunji replied, “Nothing. It’s just that seeing you like this brings back warm memories of my grandmother feeding me.”
Xie Changshi: “I suggest you go straight to the hospital—from ophthalmology to psychiatry.”